Opening Day Plans

[Bamboozle]

I remember how excited I was to go trout fishing my very first time on Opening Day at Ridley Creek...

Was it a zoo, yep! Did I catch any fish, nope! Did I care, nope, well maybe. 😉 Did I do it again for a few years after that, yep...

Eventually I lost interest, but that's how it how it goes for some folks with fishing.

However, frequently you can still find me sitting in a chair, drowning worms under a bobber, fishing for sunnies with the same passion and exuberance I had as kid so I guess not all fishing preferences or everybody changes...

For these reasons, I totally get Opening Day and I respect folks who fish the ways I don't...

 

[41FanForLife]

No fishing here on Beaver county streams.

 

[wildtrout2]

I remember how excited I was to go trout fishing my very first time on Opening Day at Ridley Creek...

Was it a zoo, yep! Did I catch any fish, nope! Did I care, nope, well maybe. 😉 Did I do again for a few years after that, yep...

For these reasons, I totally get Opening Day and I respect folks who fish the ways I don't...

I agree, except it was Mill Creek that initially lit my trout fishing fire. I have fond memories of those "good ole days."

 

[Bamboozle]

I agree, except it was Mill Creek that initially lit my trout fishing fire. I have fond memories of those "good ole days."

I remember that first trout outing like it was yesterday...

I'd give a billion dollars for that same level of excitement & anticipation today...

 

[wildtrout2]

I remember that first trout outing like it was yesterday...

I'd give a billion dollars for that same level of excitement & anticipation today...

Yep, the anticipation was a BIG part of the experience. Me and my buds would ride our bikes down to the "crick" prior to OD to feed the the trout dough balls, as sort of a pre-season scouting mission to find where the most/biggest fish were holding.

 

[5footfenwick]

Went with my dad. Fished through the rain. It was fun to be out. Not a lot happened for us today. We went to the nearest creek to my pop’s house for a little catch and release. I walked to fish this creek growing up. Just for fun. It isn’t good, or stocked, or natural reproduction or class A. It’s unlisted. But it’s fun. On small streamers. We had 7 bites and landed 2, each landing one. Mine was bigger 😉

~5footfenwick

 

[TimMurphy]

I remember that first trout outing like it was yesterday...

I'd give a billion dollars for that same level of excitement & anticipation today...

Dear Bamboozle,

It wasn't trout fishing, but my father had a work colleague who had a small pond on her property with bass and bluegills the size of which I've never seen.

As kids there was nothing more that excited the Murphy boys than a Wednesday or Thursday night summer thunderstorm with the promise that if we caught the nightcrawlers we'd go to Mrs. Coles that Saturday morning.

I'd love a 50-year wayback machine too!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Bamboozle]

Dear Bamboozle,

It wasn't trout fishing, but my father had a work colleague who had a small pond on her property with bass and bluegills the size of which I've never seen.

As kids there was nothing more that excited the Murphy boys than a Wednesday or Thursday night summer thunderstorm with the promise that if we caught the nightcrawlers we'd go to Mrs. Coles that Saturday morning.

I'd love a 50-year wayback machine too!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Nobody in my family fished so it was all on me to figure things out on my own...

A couple of neighbor kids (I lived in a block of twin houses with a common driveway) had dad's who took them fishing. One particular day they brought back fish from a local pond in a bucket.

I remember being in a trance staring at those sunnies swimming around in that little bucket, hoping against hope I'd get the chance one day to go fishing...

Luckily for me, I had friends in school who fished. A few years later they invited me along and ignited the passion I still have today. However, it saddens me to think that somewhere out there, there is a kid like me who wants to, but doesn't have anyone to expose them to fishing.

That's why against what I practice, I get a particularly big smile on my face watching some kid, or even an uninitiated adult experience what I did on my first outing or my first Opening Day...

Even though it ain't for me, I hope the tradition never goes away...

 

[hockeyref]

I can still remember being about 5 or 6 and my brother hosing down the yard and teaching me to “stalk and catch” night crawlers by hand! Kinda goes along with actually seeing the stars at night. Feels like a couple lifetimes ago!😥

 

[leonidjbjv]

I am sure some of you have traditions that you stick to.

Kicking it off with a first cast toast except it's just Coke lol

 

[jifigz]

Went with my dad. Fished through the rain. It was fun to be out. Not a lot happened for us today. We went to the nearest creek to my pop’s house for a little catch and release. I walked to fish this creek growing up. Just for fun. It isn’t good, or stocked, or natural reproduction or class A. It’s unlisted. But it’s fun. On small streamers. We had 7 bites and landed 2, each landing one. Mine was bigger 😉 View attachment 1641241172
View attachment 1641241174

~5footfenwick

This is totally your opinion, but I would bring this stream to the PFBC's attention. I come to this conclusion by talking to Mike about a similar such situation of a stream that I know of. Well, actually I am talking about a stream section. It is unlisted, but I guarantee it is Class A many times over. I think it affords the stream some level of protection being listed, but it is also might add increased pressure. I really don't think it does, though. Our natural repro list is huge, and I don't think being on that list really brings too much attention to the water.

I did not bring my stream section to the attention of the PFBC, but I plan to soon.