Looking Back on 2004

Another year has gone by. My how they seem to pass! And as they do, they speed up! As I reflect on this past year's fishing, there have been some really good trips to a variety of quality places. Some of these places are like old friends, and some were with old friends, while others were new experiences. As each year passes, my goal is to add new locations. The Lord has blessed me in so many ways, but, in this case, by allowing me to do the things I enjoy so much! It is indeed a wonderful thought that there are more rivers and streams out there than I'll ever be able to fish!

As usual, most of my fishing in 2004 was on the Little Missouri River. This last year was my best year of fishing. Even a fish kill incident that supposedly didn't happen can't diminish that. Although catching fish has a lot to do with fishing success, a group of outstanding fishing fiends (urr, I mean friends) helped make the year a great experience. This group grows yearly. I want it no other way . My fishing friends represent the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, with acquaintances from several others areas.

I've also spent quite a bit of time at other locations. The Mountain Fork River at Beaver's Bend produces good trips every year. It is such a beautiful place! While in Northwest Arkansas, there were two trips on the Beaver tailwaters section of the White River with the first, a several day event, producing excellent fishing. The other, a half day trip, was more of an esthetic situation, meaning I didn't catch anything!

While vacationing in Eureka Springs, I was able to spend parts of three days fishing at Roaring River Park in Southwest Missouri. If you don't know the place, it is a beautiful area. The facilities are excellent, and the river has some large, healthy fish. It is fished hard, so typically you will have to exert quite a bit of effort per fish. Hey, that's what fishing is about. I've had some fun days there!

Whenever I could, I fished the Little Red River. It tops my list for entertainment! The Little Red was my destination for several quality trips in 2004. That's as good as it gets! Over a series of years, I've slowly built a better knowledge of the river. That's great! One of the true joys of fishing is the sense of accomplishment that tags along with the learning process. I would like to increase my time on the Little Red in 2005!

In 2004, I attended my first conclave in Mountain Home. While there, I was able to spend a little time on both the White and Norfork rivers. Hopefully, the years will allow me more time at both places. There were also some mornings at Lake Taneycomo, near Branson. They generated heavily every day, but we were able to catch a few fish before and during early generation. I hope to fish there again.

The picture at the top of this page shows one of the treats that happened in 2004. During the year, I was able to obtain a 6' 6" 3 wt. bamboo rod that I've tagged "Little Darling". This rod is fun to fish with! I suppose that it has to be considered a small stream rod, but I'm amazed at how it handles 12 to 14 inch fish! In adjusting to the rod, I've realized that patience is a virtue in casting bamboo. With a graphite rod, the user can often get away with putting a little "ummph" in a cast to gain some distance. With bamboo, the rod controls the cast. The caster may as well relax and enjoy the ride! Which is better? Neither, or both! Enjoy what you have!

Please excuse the number of "I"s in this article. It's just a summary of my thoughts on 2004. Thanks for reading it!

Things I would like to do if I'm blessed with the time:

Fish the Spring River
Fish the San Juan
Fish more at Albert Pike
Float the Little Red
Fish the Yellowstone area
Canada!
Visit Dale, my wife's brother, in Pennsylvania
Fish Pennsylvania!
Learn more about my local areas
Enjoy fishing with my friends

I could keep listing! God bless you and yours!

thoughts by Johnny McJunkins

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