I was reading this thread and thinking why do we need an opening day at all.

Then this weekend my son had the opportunity to interview a veteran from the Korean War for a Boy Scout project. The man is in his 80's and afterward in speaking to his wife she asked if I knew where she could get fresh bait. He can't drive anymore and is limited by age and injury but he lives for opening day of the fishing season. It's a rite of passage that he measures his life by, even in his twilight years.

It creates a sense of anticipation. Just as opening day of Hunting Season, rifle, black rifle, bow, etc. And like hunting, it's probably good for the fish to have a break. Not everyone is a steward of the lakes and practices selective harvest. The trout is mostly a put and take prospect with the stockers but the closed time does give some lakes the time to prep for spawn.

I fish year round whereever I can but even I look forward to opening day.

You couldn't pay me enough to be at Black Rock State Park on Saturday morning but my son and I will be out on some lake come this April 16th in the row boat and if he's up to it, we'll have an old soldier in the boat with us.