Are you fishing Opening Day?

Opening Day of trout season is April, 13 at 6:00 a.m. Will you be fishing?

yup, same old tradition with my brother and his boys and a small cook out afterwards at my house.

Yes for big green fish in Florida!

I'm gonna use my newly created envelope lure to catch a trout stamp!

I will probably toss some lures "targeting pickerel", and release a bunch of trout. No stamp needed.

I will be at opening day somewhere. where do I get trout stamp? Does live trout come with the stamp?

I'll probably take a kayak out to Wyassup, Green Falls or Glasco. I cant deal with the crowded streams. We've kept our annual opening day camping trip on the third Saturday weekend, we've been doing it so long.

Yes I will be definitely fishing on opening day, can’t wait! Not sure exactly where I am going yet but would be cool to run into a few people from here. Likely will be going fishing at one of the trout lakes in the NW part of the state, any suggestions are appreciated.

In my younger years opening day was a much anticipated,yearly event with the excitement and preparation taking place over several weeks before that magical day. It was truly a day to enjoy. As my years passed I spent less and less time fishing on opening day. And for the past dozen or so years I don't fish but enjoy making the rounds to my old waters and watch the activity. I can appreciate the excitement, joy of others. I get a kick out of the at times frenzied efforts of someone trying to hook a fish. Sometimes its a circus to laugh at ...sometimes the crowds are down in numbers at times fishing areas are overflowing but most anglers seem to be having fun and enjoying the magic of opening day.

Though I'm 90 seconds from the Highland ramp, I'm going to McDonough. Good fishing and good ramp conditions. Not getting out till late morning though.

Have only been McDonagh once. Really not that busy on opening day you will get a parking spot no problem later in the morning? When I fished there once I did okay but no trout.

Never missed an Opening day into my mid 20's but then i had the bright idea of owning a bait shop and haven't fished opening day in 17 years......

So THIS year you're gonna fish it Andrew???!!! Don't miss this Once In A Stamp Time opportunity!

When I was young, my Dad used to combine opening day with an annual camping trip. I remember not being able to sleep for days in anticipation. I remember following my Grandfather's tractor as he plowed the gardens picking up garden worms vs night crawlers. Many times, the garden worms I had, out-fished people with the crawlers.

My parents divorced my Sr year of high school, so my Dad and I skipped the trip that year. Over the next year, I got it wet for the first time, and started chasing girls. Sadly, they quickly became a higher priority to me than fishing.

Now as an adult, I look back at my youth, with my Dad having passed now, and wished I took advantage of the time I had left with him while he was here. We can't change time though, and we're forced to live with the choices we have made!

I still enjoy getting out and fishing our old haunts, remembering our times together though. I don't have the tolerance for the crowds like I did when I was a kid, so I often wait until Saturday evening, or Sunday morning.

Those that have Dads still here, spend an afternoon fishing with them. Those that have children, take them fishing and let them take part in the excitement, because some day, when you're gone, they'll have those memories to warm their hearts when they miss you!



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Great reflection and advice Jay.

We do an annual opening day bass trip with 3 guys I have known since 1971. This year it's the week following so we can use our holiday on Good Friday and fish 2 days. One of the guys had a place on a private lake for 30 years. He sold it and bought another one last year so we will be there for 2 days.

I'll be crashing brush on local streams as usual.

Good old days!! We all have similar stories. Cant wait.

Same ole tradition on Cedar Lake with my Dad for 40+ years. I'll have a friend and his son aboard as well.

Jay, great story!

Great stories and good thread!! I too find opening day exciting and it has given me many memories and brings a big smile to my face mostly stoked by family activity.For a number of years I was not able to fish and I would always reminisce and vow to fish it when I could. I also get a big lift out of seeing others enjoying the outdoors in a positive manor like I do. Esp. the kids.....

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Jay you've about hit it "dead on"!!!

One of my "earliest" opening day memories is going to the Farmington River with my father back in the very early 70's. It was at the dam on RTE#4 just before the Collinsville Axe Factory.

We got there and of course it was packed so we had to keep walking down river till we found an open spot to fish. I think my father caught some trout & I didn't get the jist of river fishing at the time so I more or less just walked around "looking for treasure". Anyway it was a very good time for the both of us.

Most likely I will fish opening day. Pending the weather, I might take the boat out. If I am busy or the weather is iffy, I will sneak out in the afternoon to some local spots in Tolland/Vernon/Willington. It is not so much about the fishing as it is making a declaration that another New England winter has for the most part past and that I remain sane (for the most part).

Reflecting on Jay's thoughts earlier in this post, for many years, I would take my son out as a child and did so till about 6 years ago when he went off to college in Vermont. Now he he is finishing up his masters in Pottsdam NY (Clarkson University) which is a little south of Ottawa Canada. Considering he has taken a job coaching at Wesleyan Virginia Beach, it is not likely I will get to fish opening day with him anytime soon. On a brighter note, I will be visiting my son in late June for a 4 day weekend of Virginia Beach/Chesapeake Bay fishing. Also, my grandson (my daughter's child) will be two this August. Another year or two and he will be up for fishing and dogging. Dogging refers to the after fishing activity of driving from one hot dog wagon/joint to the next after having a dog or two. There is a lot more driving up here than there was in Brooklyn NY when my grandfather used to take me. Bottom line... fishing was always more about spending quality time outdoors with family. I am glad I have gotten out almost every opening day.

For the younger guys out there, no one ever, if they get the chance, on their deathbed looks back and says I wish I had worked another day or spent another day doing spring clean up. Yes opening day fishing is generally far from the best fishing but spending time with people you love and seeing some of the "tools" (there was guy on the Willimantic a few years back with a 11' surf rod, not a noodle rod, a real surf stick) are the stuff that fantastic memories are made of. I don't care if it's raining/snowing, cold etc. Get yourselves out there and make some memories. See ya at Harry's/Colechester which is a must stop on the "dog trail".

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315,000 trout stocked for Opening Day:

Trout stocking map:
https://ctdeep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=70d13bc033854b89a87c04b1d11b1a43

One more day gators and bass.

Yes, I will be fishing below the covered bridge on the Salmon River in Colchester using a 9' Surf rod, 50 lb braid and a huge triple treble hook plug. This will be more entertaining than catching 10" stocked trout.

I’ll prob opt out and go to Boston for the Sat Red Sox game.

I’ll make a few shore/wading casts from Cedar Lake in Chester at some point. Pretty spot, always do well there and landed a 28” Brown Trout wading there 2-3 years ago on Opening Day.

Have fun all. Enjoy the outdoors with fam & friends.

It will be my family's first official opening day outing. A new tradition begins this year!

I'll be heading down to the Farmington with a group of 10 guys. We get together every year for opening day. Its more of a social event. The fishing usually stinks but the company is fantastic.

I am lucky to be retired. Used to look forward to opening day wen I was working but now I fish almost every day so it is no big deal. Why fight the crowds. But I will hit a fishermens breakfast.

Used to get down in the dark to claim a spot, now if I feel up for it will leave the house 2pm, maybe to the Natchaug where the 2 trout limit should insure there will be fish left.

And that's what it is all about.

Can't wait for my godson to get a little bit bigger and be able to take him around.

Hell yeah, I'm fishin !
The usual gauntlet....Jeremy, Blackledge...eat breakfast at the fire house ( use to go Moose lodge)
then finish at the Salmon. Drink some beers, have some laughs, smoke a cigar or two.

Good luck to all tomorrow. Spring has arrived!

Good luck everyone! Who will post the funniest picture of a true one day/year opening day fisherperson : )

Work!!!! May have to try and do the suit and tie opening morning photo like a few years ago.

Opening Day-
Due to a poor choice in husbands, my mother was forced to play both mother and father until I got my license to drive. Probably the happiest day in her life.
She was a trooper- she would get up with me at 4 in the morn and drive me to Southford Falls or Hop Brook.
never complained no matter how miserable the weather. She would wait in the car while I fished. Then we would treat ourselves to breakfast. My mother was one of the greatest generation who did everything for her son.
THANKS MOM.

At the ripe old age of 63, As luck would have it- I joined a private club with a heavily stocked catch and release pond.I fish there first because the pond has terrific hatches and the fish are as dumb as a rock-LOL- Even I can catch one or two. On the way home , I hit a major trout stream.By the time I get to the stream, everyone has gone or those that remain tell me the stream is fished out. I just smile cause I know that 50 yards up or down stream from the road, the pools will be loaded with fish.

Tight Lines everyone- Good luck and be safe. And remember, Your God does not deduct the time spent fishing,hunting and camping from your life span. Based on that- go fishing a lot.

Great story ! ! Great Mom , John ! !

No !!!Hate the crowds and all the damage the opening day "Sportsmen" do to the waters in a short span of time.


People Suck !!!

Fantastic story, and from what we have experienced here meeting you, I say your mother did one heck of a fine job! Hope you land a bunch tomorrow, private or public.

we REALLY need to fish together in 2019.

Awesome post John.
I hope you catch some breeders tomorrow.

Skunkedalot, you had one terrific mom.

Opted out and went to the Sox vs the Orioles game as my 2nd day in the USA in the last 2 weeks. I plan to make a few casts for Pickerel this week and throw back the trout.

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[img]http://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/pi...af2_829e_8d8443[/img]

(Heather’s daughter is kidding....she likes me )
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We will be there tomorrow Don!

Enjoy! We’re staying over tonight as well, but not for Sun’s game.

Nice, we have pets so its a pain getting an overnight. We are leaving around 9am and will make a day of it.

Rolled out of bed with a miserable cold this morning, said I was not going anywhere, wife said she wanted to try broiling trout, to get ready anyway. So I did, and as the temperature passed 63 degrees, headed out 1PM. Stopped at same Natchaug pool I did well at last year, a muddy torrent. Took one lone rainbow, after a while headed west to smaller streams. Considered the Mount Hope but water was in the trees. The Willimantic would be worse so ended up at the Fenton, nobody fishing my favorite pool. Lost two but then netted three nice browns. Headed to another spot and teased out a final brown, wife is broiling the two biggest as we speak. Not a lot of people out this afternoon, plenty of parking at the usual popular spots.

My dad was afraid to wade the Hope yesterday because of the high level/flow. He managed a few from his hot spots. I had the kids at the club for a wet derby. Breakfast was great though.

fished the opener at Crystal lake in Ellington , I have fished Crystal for the past 42 consecutive years, haven't missed !
over 4 decades of opening day excitement !

Cedar Lake in Chester was tough! We worked hard pulling flies on lead core. Average was 10-12" too, WTF ! I did lose a decent 18-20"er at the boat horsing it when I shouldn't have been. My dad was pissed! lol .

Another opener in the books. Great time was had by all. We waited the rain to stop, drank coffee at the house then went for breakfast at the VFW...started at Jeremy at 9, then the ledge, finished at Salmon. Between the 5 of us who fished, everyone caught and released over 10 trout apiece, a few hit the stringer that were not gonna make it..Salmon was the toughest...swollen chocolate milk, but thats where we usually just go to "socialize"..

A lot of 12" brookies and some FAT browns of the same length.
All agreed the state did a good job stocking.

With the sun coming out, turned out beautiful. The least crowded opener in my life time of doing opening day 45 years...

DEEP wants your feedback on Opening Day:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CTOpeningDay2019

Yea....filled it out a few days ago. I answered that I didn’t fish opening day due to the $5 Trout Stamp...another CT “Tax”, and now a DEEP “Tax”.

There you go, at least you made your voice heard.

Yea....usually I’m a church mouse.