Joe, agreed on the technology issue. I've purchased on line licenses in New York using the Decals system and it is fantastic but I don't get how that's related to opening day.

I pretty much agree with Joe about opening day but with one small difference. I'd like to see the fishing season stay open all year except for the week before opening day. If the state closed the fishing season for just one week then CT could still continue it's tradition of having an opening day with the wonderful circus like atmosphere.

I for one like the unique CT tradition of opening day of fishing. We don't have the Red Sox and we don't have the Yankees and we don't even have the Whalers anymore but we do have opening day!!! I think the newspaper publicity and t.v. publicity that fishing gets is great for our sport. Fishing license sales go through the roof and local bait shops and retailers get a nice bump in sales that amounts to Christmas in April. Mom's and Dad's remember the day because it's so well publicised and is such a big part of our CT heritage and families spend the entire day together persuing a fun outdoor activity. It's often a day when the next generation of fishermen and fisherwomen are first introdued to our sport.

I don't know any serious fishermen that take opening day seriously, and what's wrong with that!!! It's basically a state wide trout fishing derby designed for kids and grown ups that are still kids at heart. What's not to like about that???? You can choose to share in the fun or you can avoid the chaos whichever you prefer.

Personally I have always considered opening day to be like a day at the circus and who doesn't love the circus!!!