Don Puterbaugh has been variously called “the Dean of the Arkansas” and
“the guy from the Old Testament” but he has actually only guided the
Arkansas River since the early 1970s. With Paul Fling (retired from
ArkAnglers), he founded the Columbine School of Fly Fishing and authored
several volumes on the sport, including The Basic Manual of Fly Tying and The Fly Fisherman’s Primer,
both recently revised and re-released.
His books are not only valuable as rich sources of fly fishing information, they are canvases of sorts for his instructional sketches and beautiful fishing-related artwork. Some of this art will soon be available for purchase on this new website.
Don is a pioneering fly tyer, a student of aquatic entomology, and an astute observer of trout behavior. When not guiding wade trips for ArkAnglers, Don can often be found riverside doing research on bugs, testing new patterns, and checking on “his” fish.
His books are not only valuable as rich sources of fly fishing information, they are canvases of sorts for his instructional sketches and beautiful fishing-related artwork. Some of this art will soon be available for purchase on this new website.
Don is a pioneering fly tyer, a student of aquatic entomology, and an astute observer of trout behavior. When not guiding wade trips for ArkAnglers, Don can often be found riverside doing research on bugs, testing new patterns, and checking on “his” fish.
While the rest of Don's site is being developed...
Enjoy Springtime Blue-wing Olive mayfly and caddis dry fly action.
You can book a guided wade trip with Don now!
You can book a guided wade trip with Don now!
