Just found this, would like to add my two cents on the issue.
Please consider that this comes from a life long CT resident who has now moved to mass.
I feel that opening day is a tradition, that which is like opening day of baseball season, NCAA tourney, local annual parades, etc etc.
Having now lived in MA for the last 2 years, I have no idea what is open, what is not, when, where, why, the how I know.
What I mean is that MA fishing is something left to be desired. If you have not really fished here, you won't understand. The DEP fishing reg is awesome, compared to MA. At least our reg tells folks where to fish, in the general vicinity. In mass, they tell you what rivers are stocked, but its your guess to figure out which section of a 300 mile river that has fish in it. The CT reg at least gets you in a 20 mile stretch, with some leg work and invested time, one can find out where the fishing is. People say, Pete (because thats my name lol), why don't you look around the rivers and see where people are fishing. I have and stopped in those spots and asked and fished along side them and nadda. I have gone to sections that have had 10+ people, no one catching fish in the first week of May after the MA DEP has said they stocked areas I am standing in.
The standing water areas, ponds and lakes are great around here, if you have a boat and like to fish from shore, its just not my cup of tea. Having seen rivers and streams like the Farmington, Salmon, Choginchaug (sp) and Quinny, I would rather fish them before wasting my time on the MA rivers. I guess the point I am trying to make is that the program up here is not so great as one would think.
If you could show me the economic impact was so great that change would be justified, I would accept that. But in the mean time, don't mess with tradition.
I'd like to add my 2 cents as well, but not in regards to Opening Day. It has to do with closed season for Trout during summertime and use of downriggers and/or leadcore at certain lakes.
Pulling a large fish from the depths, where water temps could vary by as much as 30 degrees compared to surface temps, would certainly be quite harmful, if not fatal to this species. Some lakes have a very good DO ratio at depths below the thermocline, where the water is cool enough for trout to survive a hot summer.
Not only that the fish is exposed to stress, by means of hooking, but it has to reach the surface in order to be released, and they could easily go into shock, and most of them do.
The temperature differential seems to be the major concern. Not sure about the pressure difference, or if that may affect the fish. But one thing is for sure: pulling a trout from 55F water, to 75-80F water in a matter of a few minutes, will indeed cause major damage.
I don't know a heck of a lot about this fine species, but all of the above make perfect sense, IMHO.
#667904 - 04/17/0611:28 AM
Re: Abolish Opening day of Trout season
MikeG
Member
Registered: 01/20/02
Posts: 13088
Loc: NW CT
another opening day has come and gone ............
Most of our small rivers are now covered in worm boxes,discarded line,lure packages ,beer cans and other assorted trash from the weekend warriors,thousand of trout are now sitting in a freezer somewhere only to be thrown out next spring to make room for next years batch of opening day trout
What a great tradition we have here in this state ! :rolleyes:
But the state did make a bunch of $$$ from it to go into the general fund ,some tackle shops also made a bunch of $$
now remind me again how having an opening day benifits me and other "anglers" :rolleyes:
Opening day brings attention to our sport to many people that may have never fished before.
"Hey Dad. Can we go fishing on opening day?" "I really want to learn how to fish." "Sure son." Said dad. "I'd love to take you fishing."
When dad and I got to the wondering stream dad showed me everything he knew about fishing. He said grandpa taught him how to fish and that great grandpa taught grandpa how to fish. We caught 20 fish that opening day but only kept 2. Dad said that we threw the trout back so that we can catch them again.
"Boy dad that was fun." "Let's do it again." "I had fun too." Said dad. "I'm sure glad opening day reminded me to take you fishing son."
THE END
And there you have it. The single most important reason to have an opening day.
As you know, there are slobs around all year long. The Derby dam is just one fine example of the no opening day tradition. It looks like a gosh dam dump. Worm boxes, beer and soda cans, spent line, paper and the occasional tire litter the entire area.
Opening day doesn't benefit you or I. It benefits the kids for the most part.
It's a day where I pick up my neice and nephew and teach them how to fish, just like their grandpa taught me. I also teach them to pick up after themselves or they'll get keel hauled all the way back home just like grandpa taught me.
Opening day isn't the only day I take my sister's kids fishing. We fish pretty much all year. But, boy do they look forward to openind day. It's marked on their calendars already for next year.
Originally posted by Mike G: Great points catch22.
My 2 cents..........
1)License sales, and therefore revenues, will drop like a rock (and they will, they dropped dramatically in MA when they did it)
They might drop the first year or two but will level out in the long run.The lack of opening day will also draw anglers from other states who will need to purchase liscenses to fish in CT. Drive by the Farmington on any given day and you will see the out of staters out number the CT plates.
2)The DEP budget will be cut, because they are bringing in less revenue to the general fund.
We as fisherman need to lobby for MORE $$$ for the DEP the state will listen if the number of voices is loud enough.
The DEP will save money from not having to pay staff overtime to get the stocking done by opening day.
3)Because of the budget cuts, less trout will be stocked.
But we will have more trout overall because we will not be losing 60% of the annual trout stocking in a 2 week period.
4)Because less trout are stocked, even fewer licenses will be sold
It may be true but fishing will be better for longer periods than just the two weeks after opening day.
5)Repeat steps 1-4 until rock bottom is reached.
I daubt it will ruin trout fishing in CT. Overall CT DEP has created a world class trout fishery on some of the waters that can hold trout year long and some big trout at that. CT draws anlgers from all over already which brings in added revenue.
Getting rid of opening day may cause some minor inconveinaces but overall it will only benifit the fishery and us as anglers in general.
I agree that this will happen but the fact is more trout were stocked in the farmington and naugy and trout lakes this year, this took away from almost every river Ive fished the last two days... I saw a total of 30-50 fish caught between 3 small rivers and many broken hearted little kids, last year the dep stocked hundreds of fish, this year only a fishing club stocked.... whats up with that. Mass has an amazing stocking pattern compared to ours- there fish are healthy and not beat to hell liek ours, there fish average 10-15in while ares are deffinately less. Cant remember a time I caught a trout over 14in. Craqck down on the poaching and start stocking for the kids, the big lakes have established populatiosn no need to dump 40k in there.
Never stop trying, What you desire is waiting just around the corner.
#667908 - 04/17/0612:03 PM
Re: Abolish Opening day of Trout season
OHMYGOD
Member
Registered: 06/23/04
Posts: 20754
Loc: Suffield Ct
Now that opening day is over, I'll pull out the trash bags and start cleaning up. I just can't figure out why people can't take out what they bring in, I'd hate to see what there homes look like!
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You can take what you want from life......As long as you give a little Back. "We never get over the fishing fever, it's a delightful disease and thank the lord there is no cure". "CTF, is a lure I can not afford to NOT have in my pocket"
Don’t argue with Idiots.. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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#667910 - 04/17/0612:11 PM
Re: Abolish Opening day of Trout season
MikeG
Member
Registered: 01/20/02
Posts: 13088
Loc: NW CT
Nice little stroy .
But why should the kid wait until opening day for dad to teach him to fish ? Why should he havew to ask his dad to take him fishing ?
I have taught my kids if you really want to fish there is no closed season ,we can go anytime of the year we want. I have also taught them there way more to fishing than just catching farm raised trout that have just been released the week before.
How many kids are put off to fishing and never want to do it again because of the opening day crowds ,BS and trash ???
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