Stories by Flip Putthoff

Opening-day doves: Game and Fish public fields attract birds, hunters Fall hunting seasons open at the break of dawn the first part of September with hunters taking a crack at fast-flying doves. The 2021 dove hunting season opened Sept. 4 across Arkansas, riding in on ... September 14, 2021

Fish-fry appetizer gets party started Let's say you're having the gang over for a fish fry before summer ends and thoughts turn toward hunting seasons. You'll want to put some appetizers out on the table for your guests while that oil is... September 14, 2021

Changes aim to improve waterfowl habitat Duck hunters may see some changes on three of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's wildlife management areas this year. George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area, Henry Gray Hurric... September 14, 2021

Women's outdoor skills program gets new look The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host a special women's outdoor weekend Oct. 1-3 with workshops throughout the state to help women learn how to hunt, fish and be a larger part of conservatio... September 14, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Fall is near, but most walleye, black bass and crappie are still summertime deep. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said walleye fishing is fair on the north end of the lake... September 14, 2021

Alaska fishing ALASKA FISHING Whitney Grissom of Rogers and her son, Kayden, show a king salmon they caught during a fishing trip to Alaska in August. It's one of several salmon they caught on the trip near Seward, ... September 9, 2021

Anglers strike 'gold' at trout stream The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission worked with Crystal Lake Fisheries to stock an additional 8,000 rainbow trout in the White River below Bull Shoals Dam and 2,000 rainbow trout in the Spring River... September 7, 2021

Worth the wade: One rod, two feet all anglers need on Ozark streams It's good to get cold feet in the hot summer when fishing can be tough as nails. Wading a cool Ozark stream beats the dog days heat. Creeks and rivers might be at their lowest of the year when calend... September 7, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Hikes explore Beaver, Buffalo Hill 'N Dale Hiking Club will hike a 4.7-mile loop Friday at the Lost Bridge Trail beside Beaver Lake and 8.8 miles Sept. 15 along the Old River Trail at Buffalo Nationa... September 7, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Walleye by day and black bass by night is a good summertime strategy. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said walleye fishing is fair by trolling nightcrawler rigs behind a b... September 7, 2021

Mississippi mojo: One week, one river, 100 miles make one big adventure Editor's note: Paddlers from Arkansas, Missouri and across the United States covered 100 miles of the Mississippi River on the annual Great River Rumble canoe and kayak trip July 31- Aug. 7. This year... August 31, 2021

Public fields ready for doves, hunters Hunters eager for opening day of dove hunting season Saturday can find public land hunting opportunities on Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife management areas that have been prepared to attra... August 31, 2021

Summertime blooms: Prairie stroll meanders through wildflowers, amber waves of grass SILOAM SPRINGS -- Forests are far away on this short summertime hike. Not one bluff or hilltop is in sight. Waving strands of native grass, wildflowers in colorful bloom and singing birds bring visit... August 24, 2021

Walleye save a fishing day: Tasty fish take the bark out of dog days Who'd have known 20 years ago that one day walleye would be among the most popular sport fish at Beaver Lake? Maybe the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fisheries staff saw that vision. Game and Fis... August 24, 2021

Doves kick off fall hunting seasons The traditional kickoff for hunting seasons happens Sept. 4 as hunters take to the field in pursuit of doves. Most hunters will simply find a likely looking grain field or other feeding area and have... August 24, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Group sets first fall hike Hill 'N Dale Hiking Club will open their fall hiking season Sept. 2 with a 6.2-mile hike on the Tunnel Vision trail in Bella Vista. There is an option for a 3.5-mile hike. ... August 24, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Early birds, real early birds, are catching striped bass. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said prime striper fishing time is from the wee hours of morning, long before day... August 24, 2021

Secchi volunteer hasn't missed a dip Bob Lewis is proud of the award he carries with him in his boat. The avid angler and boater has taken part in every Secchi Day event at Beaver Lake since it started in 2006. The Beaver Water District... August 17, 2021

Keen eye for nature: Photographer, conservationist shared love of outdoors Those who enjoyed his photos of birds, butterflies, wildflowers and other native plants and animals in printed pages and social media will greatly miss the results of the "daily rounds" of local photo... August 17, 2021

NWA Outdoor Briefs | Secchi Day fair online; Pea Ridge Military Park hosts wildlife outings Secchi Day fair online The 16th annual Secchi Day science fair set for Saturday will be online again this year because of covid-19 virus concerns. The fair features environmental and water education... August 17, 2021

NWA Fishing Report Beaver Lake Striped bass are biting in summer's dog days. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said the best striper fishing is from Rocky Branch park to the dam. Brood minnows, live shad ... August 17, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Horsemen seek volunteers, tools Back Country Horsemen of of Northwest Arkansas seek volunteers for trail work, trail riding, sponsoring events and donations of items and tools. The group seeks items... August 10, 2021

World down deep: Championship draws divers from around the globe Take a deep breath please and hold it as you keep reading. Men and women competing in the World Freshwater Spearfishing Championship at Beaver Lake brought in some breath-taking catches from the cool... August 3, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Striped bass are moving closer to the dam. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said the best striper fishing is now in the area of Lost Bridge South park. The same area is goo... August 3, 2021

Hobbs shooting range serves area need Rifle and handgun shooters now can access a redesigned, renovated and reopened shooting range at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area east of Rogers following a two-year rebuilding project. The range f... August 3, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Gardens celebrate Compton Dr. Neil Compton Days continues today through Friday at Compton Gardens in downtown Bentonville. The late Compton, a Bentonville physician, was instrumental in keeping the B... August 3, 2021

Summertime paddling oasis: Tailwater refreshing, cool for kayakers When summertime has lakes feeling bath-water warm, the White River below Beaver Lake dam flows ice cold on the hottest days. Puffs of cool breeze swirl from the chilly water when it's 90 degrees in t... July 27, 2021

Surplus management area deer permits on sale More than 300 leftover deer hunt permits for Arkansas wildlife management areas are available for purchase. These permits cover modern gun, muzzle-loader and mobility-impaired hunts that weren't awar... July 27, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Fishing can be midsummer tough as July meets August. The best fishing for most species is early morning, late evening or at night. Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said s... July 27, 2021

Shiloh Museum's 'Gone Fishing' The next best thing to fishing is reading about it and seeing photos from lakes and streams right here in our own back yard. There's plenty of angling joy to behold visiting the "Gone Fishing," exhib... July 27, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Class focus is wildlife Pea Ridge National Military Park will conduct free wildlife identification courses at 10 a.m. on Saturdays through September at the park, 10 miles northeast of Rogers. Park gu... July 27, 2021

A way with walleye: Hatchery gives their numbers a boost It's no wonder the staff at the Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery in Centerton acts like nervous parents. After all, they must make sure their young -- all 2 million of them -- grow up right. Each sp... July 20, 2021

Kayakers navigate superstitious flow Hang around enough river rats and it's obvious pretty quick that every sport has its superstitions, even kayaking. Baseball players might wear the same pair of socks. Pro hockey players don't shave d... July 20, 2021

Stripers make long journey to Arkansas lakes Striped bass on the Atlantic Coast may travel hundreds of miles from the ocean to freshwater bays to spawn. Thanks to the efforts of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists, some landlocked strip... July 20, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Alliance seeks cleanup volunteers Beaver Watershed Alliance hosts lake cleanups and Secchi disk dip-ins at Lake Atalanta in Rogers and Lake Wilson in Fayetteville in observance of Lakes Appreciation ... July 20, 2021

Ride 'round the mountain: Off-road trails welcome riders to Eureka Springs Mountain bikers can work up a powerful appetite zipping over one of the Ozarks' premier trail networks. The calorie burn is along the Marble Flats trails minutes from downtown Eureka Springs . Trail ... July 13, 2021

Warming water has catfish on the move Arkansas fishing is open all year, but summer is catfish season. Old Whiskers is truly a wonderful fish, be it a channel catfish, flathead catfish or blue 'cat. There are so many ways to catch them, ... July 13, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake The water's warming up and so is walleye fishing. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said trolling is the best way to catch walleye. Troll crank baits, jerk baits or nightcra... July 13, 2021

Area hunters draw elk permits Twenty Arkansans received permits to hunt elk this fall on public land in the Buffalo River region. Names were chosen in June via random, computerized draw. The regular Arkansas public-land elk seaso... July 13, 2021

Attractors point anglers toward fish Arkansas Game and Fish biologists each year sink hundreds of fish attractors made from natural brush or environmentally friendly inert materials in water bodies ranging from community ponds to large r... July 13, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Benefit fetes bike flicks A showing of bicycle films is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Arkansas Public Theater in downtown Rogers to benefit Pedal It Forward cycling initiative. Pedal It Forward... July 13, 2021

Swamp paddling paradise: Rise at lake creates lowland beauty Paddling through this most remote and mysterious patch of Beaver Lake is like exploring a southeast Arkansas swamp -- minus the alligators and the six-hour drive. When spring rain fills Beaver Lake t... July 6, 2021

'Bee' a friend to pollinators They may be small, but pollinators play a huge role in people's lives. The food supply for humans as well as wildlife would simply stop if it weren't for the bees, butterflies, bats and birds that te... July 6, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Walk spotlights prairie Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a field trip at 9 a.m. Saturday at Chesney Prairie Natural Area near Siloam Springs. Attendees will summer wildflowers in bloom a... July 6, 2021

Angling pair taste fish-story victory History unfolded before our very eyes when not one, but two scribes emerged to bask in fish-story fame as winners of the 2021 Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette fish story contest. Our trio of fish-... June 29, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Trolling is a good summertime tactic for catching crappie and walleye. Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers recommends trolling crank baits along points and in creek arms 10 ... June 29, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Claypool notches Elite win Jeremy Claypool won the Beaver Lake Elite Series bass tournament held at Beaver Lake on June 19. His tournament limit of five black bass weighed 14.21 pounds. Jonathan Lui... June 29, 2021

Guard against tick, mosquito bites Arkansans plan to enjoy the outdoors during the coming summer months, the Arkansas Department of Health stresses the importance of taking precautions against ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they... June 29, 2021

Short hikes beat summer heat: Loops reveal nature, history Good things come in small packages, like great hikes happen on short trails. Distance doesn’t necessarily mean quality on a jaunt over hill and dale, especially during summer when an all-day trek may... June 22, 2021

Wet and wild: Plant, animal diversity await discovery on boardwalk tour BENTONVILLE -- No need to pull on a pair of hip waders to explore one of the region's premier wetlands. Wide boardwalks curve gently above the shallow water at this premier wetland in Osage Park in B... June 22, 2021