OUR STORY

Our Story

STEVE DALLY and JIM DUGAN have probably spent more time in fly shops, guide boats, sitting at tying tables, and hanging out on riverbanks than most would consider sane. They both are total gear rats and not short on opinions. Jim has a penchant for the sweetgrass, slow rods and collectors reels; Steve likes fast action sticks, large arbor reels and jumping in anything that floats. A slow talking Missouri farmer, and a wisecracking Aussie journalist, these two might be our version of the odd couple.  But they were united in two ways, their shared sense of humor and  their philosophy of what makes a great fly shop:  the people, the know-how and the gear. The pair acquired the well-known Mountain River Fly Shop, in Cotter, a shop with tremendous unrealized potential.

So was born Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher and our commitment to deliver to you:

• THE equipment, flies and gear you need, and at the right price, to fish the White River, the Ozark waterways and beyond;

• THE best advice and education on how and where to fish; 

• AND a home away from home which understands stuff like your obsession with finding the perfect thread color for a 22 midge; that getting the right fit in waders is more important than the label, and how to help you find the rod that whispers sweet nothings up your arm. 

Yes, we fly fishers are a weird group to the normal world, but welcome to a place that celebrates our shared strangeness. 

We'll sympathize when you are in the doghouse for chasing down the cat with a pair of scissors, we understand how it feels to spend your days dreaming of waters and fish and we know why you would stand all day in cold water in a downpour rather than be by a warm fire. Here the coffee is free, so are the rod demos or tying tips, and some sugar from one of the dogs. Steve and Jim wouldn't have it any other way.

Our core product lines remain the same Simms, Sage, TFO, Fishpond, Umpqua, Hareline, Rainy's and of course Wapsi but you will see new and innovative products added regularly to be tested by ourselves and our customers against our criteria. Does it work, does it last and is it good value?

Where We Are 

Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher is conveniently located on Highway 62/412 just east of the White River Bridge at Cotter, Arkansas and 15 minutes west of Mountain Home. Our central location makes it a short trip to Bull Shoals Dam or the Norfork Tailwater, opening up 44 miles of trophy rich waters to the fly fisher. There are 7 White River public access points within 10 minutes drive.

We are less than 75 minutes drive from  the new airport at Branson MO, which serve routes to major hubs including Denver, Dallas, St Louis and Chicago. Many of our regular visitors also find Little Rock, Springfield, Memphis or North-West Arkansas air services convenient and hire a car for the drive. And the drive from major destination centers is easier and shorter than you would expect. Kansas City fly fishers have half the travel time to Cotter than Denver, Co, let alone fishing the Front Range.  Similarly our friends in Dallas, TX have twice as far to drive to hit the San Juan rather than Cotter.

There are great accommodations in every direction from the shop. You can choose between riverside family cabins, motels, resorts, and luxury lodges. We will have links up soon. And don't be afraid to ask in the shop where the best places to eat out are. We all have our favorites. 

Approximate distance from these major cities