Looking Back on 2006

Once again the time has come to reflect on another year that has passed. Like those before it, 2006 was great for fishing, but as I reflect on it, I can easily see changes in life brought about by events that have happened during the year. The blessing of my first grandson is foremost of the things that bring about a joy of completeness that can only be experienced, not truly communicated. The changing of time parallels new and different experiences, yet more gray hair and aching muscles show us a couple of God's methods of keeping a proper perspective on life.

Although the trips were not as varied in 2006 as in previous years, the year was one of many good outings. The repair work on the Narrows Dam power plant was finished by summer. This allowed me so much good fishing time locally during the summer months and into the fall that it was hard to break away to other locations. And much of the time I not only fished alone, but no one else was even in sight on the river! At times the river was my sole domain!

My youngest son, Matthew, graduated from college in May. Also in May, my other son and his wife, John and Hilary, had their first child, Luca, a beautiful young man with evidence of both Italian and Scot-Irish ancestry. The fact that both sons were living in the central Arkansas area over the past few years had given me more than ample reason for many trips to the Little Red River. Now priorities had seemed to shift! Matthew was back working in SW Arkansas, and my trips to Conway were spent playing with my grandson instead of fishing.

The Little Red River is an excellent place to fish! In my fly fishing career, I've fished there more than any place other than the Little Missouri, often making eight to ten trips there yearly. On three occasions in 2006 I attempted to make a trip to the Little Red. On all three trips, thunderstorms interfered with the planned fishing. Fishing in the rain is not a major hindrance for me. Fishing in a thunderstorm is something I won't do.

During midsummer, I made my almost yearly trip to the Beaver tailwaters. While summer fishing there can be slow and difficult at times, I always seem to have good trip and catch enough fish to give a feeling of completeness for the week. This year was no exception. As a matter of fact, when I found the right fly for the occasion, it not only provided me with ample catches, but also gave me the satisfaction of catching fish on a fly that I'd never seen anyone use there before. This formula is one that builds self-confidence as well as ego.

My father, one of my brothers, my son, Matthew, and I made a spur of the moment trip to the Gunnison area of Colorado in late August. While most of the trip was devoted to things other than fishing, Matthew and I were able to fish for short periods of time in both the Taylor and Gunnison rivers. We managed to catch just enough fish to call it fishing, and we enjoyed the fantastic scenery of the area. On the last fishing trip, we actually fished the run for Kokanee salmon in the Taylor river. You should have seen my fly tying setup the night before! I was using a vice grip for a vise, and the materials were hooks, yarn, and thread from the Gunnison Wal-Mart!

The trip to Colorado taught me one major lesson. Fishing the truly fast waters of western rivers like the Taylor and Gunnison are sports to be enjoyed primarily by young fishermen! My next trip out there will probably be devoted to fishing smaller rivers and streams.

In February, we had the 4th Annual Little Missouri Fly Fishing Festival in Murfreesboro, AR. This event consists of various presentations on fishing and fly tying demonstrations. I've been a tier at the event since the first festival and enjoy seeing new people each year as well as the old regulars. Dick Waldrep, David Chin, and I always try to "perform" together at such events. Actually, Dick and I tie. David "performs", whether showing his technique for tying the Chin Sow or displaying the latest collection of bamboo rods he has made. In midsummer we tied at an event at Lake Texoma. In March of the year, we all three tied at the Sowbug Roundup in Mountain Home, AR. Tying at such events is always enjoyable and gives the ego an often needed boost.

While in Mountain Home for the Sowbug Roundup (still can't figure how they round up those critters!), we had an excellent trip on the White River. While fishing near Wildcat Shoals, we caught several nice rainbows and numerous cutthroats. This trip was easily the best cutthroat fishing I had ever experienced.

As we are currently in the second month of 2007, many new things are happening on the Little Missouri River. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has initiated several new policies and experiments on the river to see what possibilities exist for improving the trout and smallmouth fishing. Browns have been stocked to check their survivability on the river. Tagged rainbows have been stocked to check for survival rates and patterns of movement. A new winter catch and release area has been created to provide for better spring to summer fishing downstream. The use of water pulsing (occasional amounts of small generation) to reduce water temperatures is likely instead of just a possibility. And the skinny water project is still on go from what I hear. This will provide more water habitat in the middle area of the year round catch and release area above Riverside Park. While we all realize that summer temperatures on the Little Missouri lessen the actual length of available trout friendly river, we likewise are happy to see the AGFC making moves to take advantage of the available assets.

Once again, please excuse the number of "I"s in this article. It's my thoughts on 2006, and I appreciate you reading it!

I thank God for providing me the opportunity to live in a country free enough to allow such outdoor activities. Never lose sight of the fact that although the sport often takes on an appearance of sophistication, when the cards are all called in, it's just fishing!

thoughts by Johnny McJunkins

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