I'll fish the TMAs during the closed season...so opening day doesn't really effect my fishing that much. It's not really about me though. What may not seem like a big deal to you or I is actually a huge deal to lots of other people. Take away opening day and I think you'd have tens of thousands of dissatisified people on your hands.

I never liked how certain lakes closed feb 28, and I couldn't ice fish there. It is one of the drawbacks...they could at least give us till mid march before closing it. From a larger perspective, I doubt the state really cares about a few disgruntled ice fishermen. It's just about pleasing the largest number of people.