Opening Day for Trout - Do you go?

[cow tamer]

I stopped going years ago.
I do think its a good way for kids to find out about fishing.

[JohnR]

Nahhh - besides I'm so far behind on stuff I may start Striper fishing in August.

But I would like to get my son out for some sweetwater soon...

[chefchris401]

Never in my life.

It's like new years eve, it's amateur day, can't see hOw fishing with that many people around is enjoyable

It's the one day I plan not to fish
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Ryan560]

Nope never been one for crowds. I get my trout fishing fix weeks before on rivers with no closed season, which has been really good lately lots of healthy stockies

[saajr]

Thats one benifit about Mass no season ecept when stocking truck is around then the bandits swarm all over the rivers.Biggest problem this year no water rivers are very low.

[fishysob]

Trout=bait! Good for kids to get their intro into fishing though.

[Ed B]

Not going never occurred to me.

When I was growing up in Mass I looked forward to opening day for trout even more than I looked forward to opening day of baseball. Probably because they let me fish for trout but never let me play for the Red Sox. When they stopped having opening day in Mass on the 3rd Sat in April, a great tradition was lost. Although you now can go whenever you want, it's still great, but not with quite the same anticipation as it once was.

Rhody's opening day is a great tradition and I always go now that I'm a RI resident. It wasn't very crowded this year where I went but the fish were nice and I met some of the same ole guys I see there every year. Not too many kids seem to go anymore and that's too bad. There were a few kids but I think most have too many other electronic distractions now.

[FishermanTim]

Funny, I've been fishing for over a month now, and I've seen more and more kids fishing. The most interesting aspect is that they are not targeting trout, but rather just wanting to catch a fish.
I spent the past couple of weekends taking my brother's kids fishing.
Main emphasis was on casting, not as much catching because that will happen on its own. They both can now cast quite comfortably and confidently. Heck, the older of the two caught a pretty good sized pickerel to boot!

The best part was when they asked me how they should work the lures for best resukts, which proved they were listening!

[Kierran]

CT freshwater fans are lucky to have plenty of places to catch and release trout during the "closed" season. The mild conditions this past winter really benefited trout survival too. Some amazing holdover and wild trout have been brought to the net already this year. However, I still partake in Opening Day festivities if nothing more than for the tradition of camping with my uncle who taught me the ropes. Ever since I was a youngster, the third weekend of April has been set aside for a camping, relaxing and fishing. The actual fishing takes a backseat to the eating, laughing and lounging. Over the years, a one night stay has developed into a three night binge. I just placed an order for 200 fresh clams and oysters to shuck around the fire. Can't wait!

[JoeBass]

I don't think I've missed an opening day in 30 years. It's a tradition for me and my friend. We go to an out of the way spot, usually catch nothing and end up at a bakery with a hot cup of coffee and a sticky bun. I love it. This year, here in Vermont, within the first few minutes I was dragging a spoon through some deep water and an enormous trout (We both guessed 22-23") rose up and inhaled it. I had it on for 1 minute and then it was gone. No broken line, just unbuttoned. We fished for another hour without a hit and then got some great coffe and spinach/feta coissants at a bakery. The spinach makes them super health food (lol). It was a great opening day.