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.

It is time CT finally did away with the opening day of trout season and left all waters open year round.


I am all for closed seasons for trout like many saltwater species have BUT we should never close the waters .If a lake is stocked with trout put a closed season on keeping trout if you must but at least allow bass and panfisherman to enjoy the water while observing the closed season on trout.Fishing is a year round sport,and not ever angler cares about stocked trout.

We need opening day- it gets the average fisherman out and then the die off for the rest of the season and we get our waters back.