A week...2 weeks...which is it young feller?...if 60 % of the trout are gone, then there were an awful lot of trout stocked this year...I couldn't fish this opener because of an out of state funeral, BUT I did get out over the last 2 days.

Caught 11 on friday at a TMA...left 9 to be caught again...ate 2 for breakfast.

Caught 7 today before the lightning and thunder chased me off the river...all were released to be caught and enjoyed by others.

My point...whether we have an "official" opener or not, there are MANY great opportunities to fish in CT. and it has gotten better, NOT worse over the years!

I've fished for 40 years, and have gradually watched the DEP and Trout Organizations in this state create a fantastic fishery...think about it.

And hats off to the DEP for the work they do ALL YEAR.

And MikeG...try to keep your figures straight :p

The local bait shops look forward to it

I still want to see opening day abolisehd and think CT can talke some notes from Mass on this.

My numbers I mention come from the states report on trout fishing,if you do a search you will find the reports I refer too.

How do the banks of are rivers look right now ? Most are litter free . Will not be the case next month.


where will I be opening day this year : Cod fishing in Massachussettes

connecticut is one of the few states in the area that still has an opening day...i think there is too much pressure on the fish and over 60% of what gets stocked is taken...if you look at mass (i fish big pond and my average trout is around 15" and they are still ery numerous)and ny by having no opening day you allow for bigger fish on the average by having no closed season or only like a month closed for stocking...i think opening day should be gotten rid of

I've been a member for a short while, and have never posted a message or a reply to anything....So far, I've enjoyed just checking out the site. However, I must interject here....Opening day of trout fishing has been a tradition that my friends & I have been celebrating for decades now....It used to be that it was a great occasion to go away for the entire weekend & share some good times w/ good people....Nowadays, it's a reason for us to all get together & take the kids fishing.....Whether it's going back to New Jersey or them coming out here to fish some of the CT waters w/ me & my girls, it gives us a reason to get together & something to look forward during the winter....I myself have no concept of fishing seasons, because I fish all year round......As a matter of fact, you're more likely to see me on the Farmington between December & March, than you are during the spring & summer.....I do somewhat agree that opening day does have some temporary negative impact on the fisheries, and you're more likely to find a moron or two cruising the water during those first few days of the "season", but what about the kids....My daughters look forward to opening day....We go to the trout park in my back yard in Stratton Brook Forest....Last year there was a crew of idiots camped out on the pond from the night before & the were drinking & just acting like complete idiots....That's the only thing I don't like about opening day....If you're going to drink & swear & act like a fool, why do it at a trout park where the facility is primarily there for children & handicapped? Anyway, enough of my rambling....I don't think we need to abolish opening day entirely, as much as we need to educate the young fishermen & women to be considerate & conscious of your surroundings & the other people that must share them w/ you....Last year, we were fortunate enough to be the lucky ones on the water catching the majority of the fish. We decided to release all of our fish (I never keep 'em, but my daughter likes to keep 1 or 2 on opening day), and before you knew it, all the children around us were releasing their fish (even the ones they had already put into their buckets)....It was great to actually see an immediate impact from our actions....You don't always witness the impact you may have made on an impressionable young mind, but on this day it was evident....I don't think I've ever seen anyone releasing fish at a trout park....Opening day is a long time friendly & family tradition for a lot of people & to take it away because a select few eletist selfish fisherman are unhappy w/ it is a bit harsh don't you think?