Avid anglers have been fishing since ice out. There's not anticipation for 'the opener' any more. And I don't see anything wrong with that.

If you're thinking the way I think you are, I feel the same way.

The way I feel about Opening Day is discontinue trout season for most places. Make many rivers TMA so you can fish it year round. Lakes and ponds that get stocked but still have a good population of other freshwater fish should be made into some sort of management area that prohibits that taking of and fishing for trout during a certain time of year. If most rivers were to be made into TMA, only certain areas should be because you have the caring fishermen at one section and the early bird poachers in another.

Done. It's together here in this one thread now.

Note: Some of the older first posts, including Mike's, are out of order at the start, but they're all here on the first few pages.

I still love opening day, despite all the crap that surrounds it. It's more of a tradition to me than anything. I've come to the point in my life that you have to take the good with the bad, and thats with everything not just opening day. I go to a trout park mostly to watch my girlfriend catch a few fish and watch some kids and older folk who can't navigate a river bank anymore. I don't care who you are when there is a fish at the end of your line there is a smile on your face. Love seeing this. Hope opening day stays forever. Not enough traditions left anymore.

Hall of Fame post right there. Pay attention young anglers.