Cotter Trout Festival Celebrates World Class Trout Fishing
 
    Cotter, Arkansas, "Trout Capital USA," is proud to present the 7th annual "Great Cotter Trout Festival" Friday and Saturday, April 18th and 19th, on the banks of the beautiful White River at Big Spring Park. The festival is a celebration of trout fishing in the Cotter area where sportsmen from around the world fish for trophy Brown, Brook, Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout. Trout fishing, river boating, great food and entertainment and a variety of special programs and exhibits will headline an outstanding event for the whole family.
 
    This year's festival is shaping up to be the biggest and best ever. A host of major fishing and conservation groups are scheduled to be part of this year's event. At press time these include the Arkansas Game & Fish commission, Mid South Fly Fishers, North Arkansas Fly Fishers, Damsel Fly Fishers, Mtn. Home Rod and Reel Fishing Club. Arkansas Outfitters & Guide Association, White & North Fork Rivers Outfitters, Trout Unlimited, Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery, and the Federation of Fly Fishers.
 
    The festival will open Friday, April 18th, at 12 noon. Students from Cotter schools will perform at the opening ceremonies near the gazebo. Special exhibits include the Area Art Club's show and sale at the Spring House. The show will open at noon and run throughout the festival. Student art will be featured. The popular North Arkansas Woodcarvers, are scheduled to appear near the rail cars. The Baxter County Library Foundation will exhibit plans for the new Donald W. Reynolds funded Baxter County Library. A large number of crafts and other booths are expected. Most will be open Friday from 12 noon till 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. To reserve booth space contact Sonny Sharp at 870-492-4483.
 
    The "Great Cotter Trout Festival" will be conducted on the grounds of the "Anglin-Tinnon Railroad Workers Memorial." Visitors can enjoy special exhibits of Cotter's colorful history as a railroad boom town more than 100 years ago.
 
    Friday evening will feature "Barbeque and Blues." Barbeque by Brent's Rib House will be served starting at 4 p.m. at the pavilion. The price will be $6 per plate. At 5 p.m. the award winning blues band "Big Red & the Soul Benders" will appear on a special "TV19" stage near the pavilion. Visitors are encouraged to come early and bring their lawn chairs to get a good spot.
 
    "Big Red and the Soul Benders" tour nationally and their appearances around the mid-south routinely include the "Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival" (formerly King Biscuit) at Helena, and other venues in Tennessee (Memphis), Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Their appearance at the Great Cotter Trout Festival is  part of a special "Arts on Tour" program. This program is supported by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts. 
 
    In addition to "Barbeque and Blues" a beer garden in a designated area near the stage will offer beer and wine between the hours of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Friday only). 
 
    Saturday, April 19th, will be "Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Appreciation Day" to honor their support of trout fishing in the Cotter area. A number of their employees will attend in uniform and be honored during the day.
 
    Festival grounds will open at 9 a.m. Fly casting demonstrations and instruction, will be conducted near the gazebo by certified experts. Fly tying will be demonstrated in the Spring House. A river boat show and sale will be located near the Cotter access ramp. Water levels permitting, boat rides on the beautiful White River, by experienced river guides, will be offered to the general public.
 
    Seminars will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. near the rail cars. The tentative schedule is:
 

    9 a.m.  Bull Shoals State Park
  10 a.m. White River Chapter, Trout Unlimited
  11 a.m. Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery
  12 noon Jeff Williams, Arkansas State Trout Biologist;
    1 p.m. Federation of Fly Fishers;
    2 p.m. Enforcement Division, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

 
    Attractions for kids have been increased. The popular "Kid's Fishing Hole" for kids, age 15 and under, will return to Cotter Trout Dock cove from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission plans to stock 500 keeping size trout for the event into a netted area in the cove. The event will be supervised by the Mtn. Home Rod and Reel Fishing Club.

 
    There will be a special program conducted by Lowes Corp. in the Cotter Trout Dock Pavilion adjacent to the Kid's Fishing Hole. Supervision and all materials will be provided for kids to build wooden ships and firetrucks. Inflatable amusements will be located on the adjacent ball field. 
 
    "Great Cat Adventures" a non profit big cat rescue facility in Atoka, Oklahoma, plan to bring several tiger cubs for kids to enjoy. Pictures with the animals will be offered for a fee. Proceeds will help defray their annual cost of operation.
 
    TV19 will present the country group "Southbound" and friends during the day from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. near the pavilion. "Southbound" is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. The festival will close Saturday evening with the annual fish fry at the pavilion starting at 4 p.m. The price is $6 per plate. The easy listening group "Rio" will take the stage at 3:30 p.m. The Blue Grass band
"Crooked Creek" will entertain at 5:30 p.m. 
 
    The "Great Cotter Trout Festival" is sponsored by the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce. For further information contact Festival Chairman, Gary Flippin, at 870-435-6144. Lodging and other information about the Cotter area can be found at www.cotterarkansas.com or www.troutcapitalusa.net.