It's still a ritual with me. I'm trying to get my 7y.o. daughter to go this year which has been like pulling teeth. Apparently after her second place derby win last year she know's it all and it's beneath her now. LOL I always go with the same bunch of guys, hit the river early, get a fisherman's breakfast and then we all split a bottle of Blackberry brandy and have some laughs. Even when I lived out of state I would come back home to make it.

I once wrote an article for Heading Out- a mag from years past about how special opening day was and is. I am 55 years young and although I can fish year round, I still look forward to going- even just to watch and to visit a fisherman's breakfast or 2. Opening Day is for the young and for the young at heart. It is good for business and it is (maybe) the one day a year, that some Dads and Moms take their
kid(s) out into the outdoors and fresh air. They already spend enough time in front of the computer and TV.I may be in the minority but I kind of like hanging around a tackle shop or two /vising the heart stopping breakfasts and just maybe,catching a trout or 2. I hope they never ever stop this tradition.

Should bump Mike G's "banish opening day" thread. Classic!s

You clearly have a much more rosy picture painted than some. Perhaps you and your intelligent friends have missed a few key indicators that things are a bit out of hand:
5 years ago I watched 2 guys just about roll into the water because one guys line tangled the other guys for the thrid time in an hour. I didn't appreciate explaining to my 6YO that sometimes adults are not very adult. It did offer itself to some interesting conversation but I don't think that's the type of memory I want my son ewalking away with. I may get him out again this year but will not make it the biggest priority. We fish a lot all year and this is just another day.
That's tame compared to some of the other things I've seen when out sans kids.

I'm sure others have some good stories of antics that have been witnessed.

Went opening day every year with my Dad until I got married and worked on Saturday. Always went to a river or brook for trout, it was my Dads favorite. We tried going to Candlewood at the Danbury town park with our boat one year but after an hour of watching guys that couldn't back a trailer we dropped the boat off at home and went to the river.LOL. I really miss those days. Of course back then it was all about Trout, but now that I'm into Bass fishing there's no need for opening day.