This is really a nice circular argument:

I am being selfish if I'm for abolishing opening day because I want the meat hunters to take home less fish, so I can have a shot at more fish later in the season. These people that don’t want to put in their time just don’t deserve to catch fish.

I am also being selfish if I'm against abolishment because I want to be able to show up ONE DAY and catch lots of fish stacked up in my favorite spot. I don’t want to put in multiple days searching for fish. There’s nothing wrong with this, the fish are put there for people to CATCH right?

Don't you guys see that either way you slice it, it all boils down to individual selfishness and personal preference? What I think about it is basically irrelevant. A long time ago I said I was FOR abolishment, but that’s only because I WAS BEING SELFISH. I just want to catch all the fish I possibly can….who doesn’t?

I hear the argument that this change would be better for the fish and has nothing to do with selfishness? I would say this is probably not sufficient justification for most people. You’ve gotta admit that not every place is a Housatonic or a Farmington or some other trophy trout lake. In all these other places (that don’t have hold-over potential), all the fish are gonna be dead by the end of the summer whether you have an opening day or not. It does nothing to protect the fish by changing the laws regarding opening day. Nature is gonna take it’s course like it or not.

On the Housatonic, there is no stocking prior to opening day so there is no advantage one way or the other. The Farmington is stocked prior to opening day, after opening day, at every major holiday, etc. From what I’ve seen of it, practically every day is like opening day based on the number of people out fishing. I see a continuous onslaught of anglers day in day out, and it looks like plenty of them are keeping fish. I don’t understand how you can say that it is better for the fish (or the trash situation) one way or the other. Looks kind of like a wash to me?

Keith,

I will take your word for it that there's a lot of trash. I've seen areas get trashed before too, and I feel as strongly as you do about it.

As much as I dislike the types of people that are typical of the opening day crowd, the simple fact is that we NEED those people in order for us to have what we have.

A friend of mine explained this to me a few months ago: Fly fisherman and others that trout fish year round are only a small minority. The vast majority of the fisherman are the type that only fish for a few weeks after opening day (i.e., the meat hunters). It is these people that support the hatcheries, not people like you and me. Yes, I know license revenue doesn't go directly to the hatcheries. They are funded by the state. However it's a little naive to think that the hatcheries would get the same level of funding if license sales suddenly dropped off because the yahoos didn't get their yearly party in the woods. The state would percieve this as a lack of public interest and would divert less resources. That's why we need these people, as much as we hate to see the mess they leave, and how they act, we need them. It's kind of like how republicans need democrats and vice versa In order for us to get what we want, we just have to deal with them. I think it's a small price to pay for the great fishing we enjoy in CT. I find that it's actually more convenient to have them all out on the same day rather than spread out. That way if it really upsets you, just skip fishing that one day.

Am I making any sense here?

MA has no closed season and from what I have seen and heard stocks better quality fish. The state already takes more than its share of money from the GF. I think many here are overvaluing the onetime a year opening day fisherman and their actual contribution. Doesn't the state also make tax money off hunting and fishing equipment sales? If that is the case they make way more off you, me and other avid fisherman than they do the guy who buys a WalMart Zebco combo, bobbers, hooks and a dozen worms once a year.

Hunting is a different animal, no pun intended. A season is needed to protect animals from overharvest and allow natural reproduction. Except for Pheasants, which are another stocked animal that on their seasons opening day don't stand a chance. Trout don't reproduce in any appreciable numbers so protecting some of the stoked ones for a chance to be holdovers is critical. You also really don't want weekend warrior hunters shooting deer in the summer as most assuredly the meat would spoil due to improper care after the kill.

Good point Mycept about the unnatural numbers of fish needing to be removed.

Too bad you were kidding about the hunting thing - I liked that one

I think after going through this whole thread I've really changed my mind about this. After reading my very first post over a year ago, I found myself asking 'what was I thinking?' I don't know, maybe it's just something that happens with old age :rolleyes:

Mike G, I know after meeting and fishing with you, that you are the most unselfish guy there is when it comes to fishing. I respect yours and others views.

I am convinced that most people's feelings on opening day stem mostly from personal opinion, and not really based on what might be better for the fishery. With some people I think it IS a little selfishness, maybe just on a subconcious level. Of course, no one is going to freely admit that. Sure, we can make an argument that having no opening day will be better for the fishery, and throw that up as the bottom line, and say that's the justification. As far as CT is concerned, I'm not convinced it would be notably better. It would certainly be better for ME, because I fish all year round, but does that mean it's better for CT? Our trout fishing is, for the most part, artificial. It's not like going to the catskills and having premier rivers all around you with wild rainbows & browns. Citing data from other states has it's limitations.

In general, just saying that this is what some other state does, doesn't really tell me what's best for CT. MA does not have an opening day. RI does have an opening day. According to Keith G, MA has some good trout fishing and stocks some good fish. Well, I've heard the same thing said about RI. So who do we copy? Now I'm a little confused, is the quality of the fishing or the fish really dependent on opening day? I don't know the answer to that. I think it's a very relevant question though. Any thoughts?