Resolutions
Every year I set fishing goals. What are your goals for 2014? Maybe you want to try to figure out a new lake? Maybe it is to catch a certain type of trout? Maybe it is to get a “big one” of a certain species? Whatever it is I hope you go for it!
We need resolutions some times to drive us on. There are many times that I get burnt out after a few days of tough fishing. Those resolutions help me to stay focused and push through it. When it gets cold and the bite it tough we need to remember our goals. I always try to think about the guys like Allan Cole and Ray Johnson who have fished for many years in cold weather. I figure if they could do it for weeks at a time then I could manage a few days.
One of my goals for 2014 is a “moving water” brown trout over 8 pounds. To qualify for my bucket list it can’t be from a great lakes trib and must be caught feeding and not during the spawning season. I have done my research and know that the White River in Arkansas is my best shot at this fish. I tried once before on the White River in 2007 but the river conditions were tough on that trip and I didn’t even manage a fish over 5 pounds. I did see a monster buck brown swimming in a fast moving run. It was easily over 30 inches. I will never forget that fish.
One of the items on my bucket list that I was able to cross off on that trip was to cast in the spot that “Rip” Collins hooked and landed the former world record brown trout on the Little Red River in Arkansas. This has been one of my favorite fish of all time because of the way he caught it. He landed the 40 pound brown on light line and a small jig… after an epic battle. When we visited the White River in 2007 I set a day aside and hired a guide that knew exactly where the fish was hooked.
It was a cool feeling when I made the cast into the exact spot that he hooked the fish. I didn’t hook anything on that cast but did manage a few decent browns for the day. I didn’t get any giants but I can see why it can grow monsters. It has long stretches of deep, dark water that still hold big fish. I have no doubt that there are many fish over 20 pounds still living in that river even as we speak.
We did manage to find another river in the area that had some nice browns. My brother Phil landed a quality 6 pounder and I hooked and lost a giant that peeled off 200 feet of line in a smoking run. We also had a 28 inch fish follow our lure almost to our feet in a deep hole. I will be visiting that river again for sure in 2014.
Look for some pics and vids from that White River trip up on Epic Trout in a few months. Hopefully I can cross another item off of my bucket list. So I ask again… what are your goals for 2014? If you don’t have any… maybe think about setting a few? It can’t hurt and it might be fun to think about what you want to accomplish this year. I hope your 2014 is a great one!
Happy New Year!
Mark Knoch
