Opening Day Plans

[jifigz]

Hey, all. I don't much care about opening day/stockies, except for the fact that it opens up a lot of previously closed waters, but I am going to be taking two kids out tomorrow, and I am trying to decipher my best move here. I bought a jar of Mike's salmon eggs last week. I have my floats and split shot ready. I picked up lots of garden hackle this morning before leaving for work. I also have plenty of flies, as I will have my fly rod at least with me, but I probably won't be using it much.

My opening day plans involve trying to figure out where to take these kids for the best and easiest fishing experience possible, but we probably won't be going right at 8:00. After we fish for stockies for a bit, I am hoping to take that kid I had on mentored youth day out for a real trout experience.

As I said, I don't care about opening day at all except for the fact that some great creeks are once again open to fishing, but it is cool to take those kids out and see them light up when they hook onto them. What are your opening day plans? I am sure some of you have traditions that you stick to.

 

[CRB]

We're to get storms tonight and tomorrow upwiof over 1.25" I'll be sleeping in.

 

[jifigz]

We're to get storms tonight and tomorrow upwiof over 1.25" I'll be sleeping in.

That is excellent news. The creeks around me look like it hasn't even rained. We need to get some keller in dem' cricks!

 

[Nymph-wristed]

My son is on a senior trip, but I may walk down to the local crick with my neighborhood buddy and his two daughters. The oldest girl, who does not love fishing that much, got two on MYD.

The younger who loves it and even helps him skin and dress deer in the shed got skunked, so she's on a mission. I lent them a 7' 5wt so she can brag she got one on a bugger on the fly rod, at least 😎

I am looking forward to having more options to chase wild trouts again myself. I miss the March 1 closing of stocked trout waters. Early Feb effs with my options....

 

[tomgamber]

taxes, if you hear cursing that's usually me

 

[riverwhy]

Entertaining husbands during my daughter's wedding shower.

 

[dudemanspecial]

My son got sick last week so we couldn't get out for mentor day so tomorrow we are going to try again. I take him to an area with a stocked lake and several small stocked streams around so there are options if one or 2 places aren't working out. I wont be out at 8, usually wait until 10 or 11. The weather in western PA may pose an issue but the plan is to go.

 

[Roofin' Trouter]

First spring in new area so maybe go across road and fish upstream in one of two stocked cricks. Maybe I'll catch one of the tagged fish and win a case of Straub's. Who knows??? Looking forward to meeting more locals.Kind of dependent on the weather.. We'll see..

 

[jifigz]

First spring in new area so maybe go across road and fish upstream in one of two stocked cricks. Maybe I'll catch one of the tagged fish and win a case of Straub's. Who knows??? Looking forward to meeting more locals.Kind of dependent on the weather.. We'll see..

The fact that you can catch a fish tagged and win a case of beer is truly an amazing redneck-y thing. That is right up there with gun bashes and other amazing uniquely American things. Also, it seems that Straub knows who to market their products to!

 

[lycoflyfisher]

Looks like a good morning to go to the local fishermens breakfast and wait for the rain to stop!

 

[sixfootfenwick]

Fishing stocked wild trout streams in the AM, gardening in the early PM.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Fishing stocked wild trout streams in the AM, gardening in the early PM.

Are you fishing for your fertilizer 🤣

 

[jifigz]

Are you fishing for your fertilizer 🤣

I would most likely say yes, yes he is.

How big is your garden? How many stocked trout does it take to fertilize it?

This unrelated, but I was talking to this guy the other day, and he was like "I'm a spoiled fisherman. I paid for my trout, and I want them to be there." Man, people love stockies. Not only do them love them, they are expecting them.

 

[hooker-of-men]

I didn't know about this Straub campaign. My ever-dwindling faith in humanity just got a little boost.

 

[jifigz]

I didn't know about this Straub campaign. My ever-dwindling faith in humanity just got a little boost.

It is actually a pretty awesome idea. If I still drank, I would purposefully go fishing there looking for a free case of beer. You know, it turns it into sort of that Willy Wonka Golden Ticket vibe. Plus, you could drink lots of Straub before you went fishing for another case. It sounds pretty fun.

 

[wildtrout2]

Hey, all. I don't much care about opening day/stockies, except for the fact that it opens up a lot of previously closed waters, but I am going to be taking two kids out tomorrow, and I am trying to decipher my best move here. I bought a jar of Mike's salmon eggs last week. I have my floats and split shot ready. I picked up lots of garden hackle this morning before leaving for work.

Garden hackle is usually the BEST option, but don't forget a few Mepps spinners! Best of luck to you and the kids.

 

[Roofin' Trouter]

It is actually a pretty awesome idea. If I still drank, I would purposefully go fishing there looking for a free case of beer. You know, it turns it into sort of that Willy Wonka Golden Ticket vibe. Plus, you could drink lots of Straub before you went fishing for another case. It sounds pretty fun.

Its called Elk County Trout -A-Thon and goes on through May 31. Tagged fish in 5 or 6 cricks and 2 small impoundments. You can win other stuff from local businesses beside beer but that's what I'm hoping for.I don't drink but then will have something to bring to the party.

 

[sixfootfenwick]

I would most likely say yes, yes he is.

How big is your garden? How many stocked trout does it take to fertilize it?

This unrelated, but I was talking to this guy the other day, and he was like "I'm a spoiled fisherman. I paid for my trout, and I want them to be there." Man, people love stockies. Not only do them love them, they are expecting them.

Honestly, a lot.
About 500 sq ft

 

[Bamboozle]

I will be watching Quali for the Japanese Grand Prix which I am recording at 2:00 am...

I'll go out one or more days next week at a local STW and a few other local non-stocked streams. Opening Day isn't my thing...

 

[Bamboozle]

Hey, all. I don't much care about opening day/stockies, except for the fact that it opens up a lot of previously closed waters, but I am going to be taking two kids out tomorrow, and I am trying to decipher my best move here. I bought a jar of Mike's salmon eggs last week. I have my floats and split shot ready. I picked up lots of garden hackle this morning before leaving for work. I also have plenty of flies, as I will have my fly rod at least with me, but I probably won't be using it much...

If the kids can "work" a jig, one of my favorite spinning lures for trout is a twitching a white marabou crappie jig through likely looking holes...

If not, a Woolly Bugger or regular attractor nymphs under an appropriate sized bobber (just big enough so they can cast the fly) fished like you would with a fly rod is another excellent "spinning" option.

BTW - A slip float with "bobber stopper" placed on the line at the appropriate depth makes casting a fly/bobber or streamer/bobber rig a WHOLE lot easier.