One week left until New York’s trout opener
One week from today, the general statewide trout season opens, and participating anglers are keeping their collective fingers crossed that Mother Nature doesn’t pull an April Fool’s joke that day. Historically, the April 1 trout opener has run the gambit from naughty to nice, sunny to snowstorms, low water to flood waters. Savvy anglers accept that this early in the Spring, you get what you get and try to make the best of it.
This year, the DEC plans to stock 2.34 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in more than 300 lakes and ponds and roughly 2,990 miles of streams across the state. Spring stockings will include 1.78 million brown trout, 409,500 rainbow trout and 153,000 brook trout. Approximately 100,000 two-year-old brown trout 12-13 inches in length will also be stocked into lakes and streams across the state. For a complete list of waters to be stocked with trout this spring, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30465.htmlwww.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30465.html.
When I was a youngster, nothing, save for a blizzard or mumps, could keep me from wetting a line on opening day, but as I’ve “matured,” that old affliction, common sense, has made some major in-roads to my anticipation and follow-through once the calendar changes from March 31 to April 1. No longer is there any sense of panic if my trout gear remains in the basement for another few days. I know better days will come, albeit sometimes agonizingly slow in some years.
Fishing for trout on opening day sometimes takes on similar appearances to ice fishing; red-faced anglers are bundled in insulated clothing and wearing gloves. And a thermos of hot coffee or other warming beverage is never too far away. While they may not have to keep skimming ice off the hole they’re fishing through, some years require they pause frequently to remove the accumulated ice that builds up on their rod guides and line. And all in an effort to catch a fish usually less than a foot in length – in winter that would be a perch or sunfish, while on April 1 it’s a “pan-size” trout.
For diehard opening day trout anglers, hope springs eternal, even if it means risking losing all feeling in their hands due to the cold air and water. Truthfully, it’s less about catching fish than snubbing one’s cold, runny nose at a long winter season that seems intent on lasting far too long. But on those rare years when the weather, waters and trout cooperate, the brain magically adopts a firewall-like approach, storing the memories of that day away while conveniently blocking those of bone-chillingly wintery ones.
As of this writing, the DEC had not revealed its trout stocking dates or locations, so most opening day anglers will be on their own in finding catchable trout. In fairness to those who await the trout stockings with bated breath, it’s become increasingly difficult to locate private land streams where permission to trout fish is given. My, how times have changed. In my younger years, just the opposite was true; few landowners minded if you wet a line in a stream that ran through their property, especially if you politely asked permission beforehand. And these often included those who’d never give you permission to hunt.
Opening day trout angling in our area often bears little resemblance to what you’ll see later in the season. Classic flyrodders will be few and far between, as will petite artificial flies casted on long lines and spider web thin leaders. In their place will usually be spinning outfits, monofilament line, earthworms, salted minnows, small marshmallows and perhaps a small spinner or other hardware lure. Generally if you see someone using a fly rod, they’ll be fishing a small brook trout stream with live bait on monofilament line.
If the recent conditions hold up (and that’s always a BIG if this early), most local streams should be in fairly good condition, meaning moderately high flow levels and seasonably warm. We all know how quickly and drastically our late March weather conditions can change; spring-like one day and winter-like the next.
Some popular opening day streams are: Genegantslet, Bowman, Otselic, both branches of theCanasawacta, Fly Meadow, Ludlow, Dark Hollow, Shawler, Pleasant, and Wharton in Otsego County. If not too high and roiled, the uppermost branches of the Chenango and Unadilla rivers can provide fishing opportunities for primarily brown trout. Before heading to any trout stream, be sure to check your current NYS fishing syllabus for regulations and creel and size limits on any waters you plan to fish.
We have many excellent small native brook trout streams in the area, and if worse comes to worst, weather-wise, those are the waters I’d recommend fishing. Leave the bigger ones for later in the season when their fishing and catching conditions improve. Or if the weather turns truly nasty, do like I do these days and leave you trout gear in the basement or garage. Believe me, it’ll get better.
Youth Day At Rockdale April 10
The Rockdale Rod & Gun Club, 312 Rockdale Rd., Mt. Upton, NY, cO-Sponsored with ADIRONDACK-CATSKILL CHAPTER Safari Club International, will host its annual Youth Day April 10 9:00 AM - 2 PM. Ages: 17 and under are FREE. Events: Laser Shot, air-guns, archery, K-9s, game calling and fishing. Free lunch and door prizes. Raffle items drawn that day include three chances for resident lifetime NY Sportsman licenses or $500. For information contact Ron Meek (607) 373-3009 or e-mail: ronandkathy@roadrunner.com
NWTF Banquet April 11
The local National Wild Turkey Federation chapter, the Mid-York Yelpers, will hold its annual banquet on Sunday April 11, 3PM, at the American Legion, 29 Sheldon St. Norwich. It includes a Silent Auction, Live Auction, and raffles. Contact Sean Karns [315] 436-3588 or [315] 861-2115 or Al Marsters [607] 674-9723. Dinner tickets only $25, Single membership and meal $50, Couples $70. Pick up tickets at door after calling.
This year, the DEC plans to stock 2.34 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in more than 300 lakes and ponds and roughly 2,990 miles of streams across the state. Spring stockings will include 1.78 million brown trout, 409,500 rainbow trout and 153,000 brook trout. Approximately 100,000 two-year-old brown trout 12-13 inches in length will also be stocked into lakes and streams across the state. For a complete list of waters to be stocked with trout this spring, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30465.htmlwww.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30465.html.
When I was a youngster, nothing, save for a blizzard or mumps, could keep me from wetting a line on opening day, but as I’ve “matured,” that old affliction, common sense, has made some major in-roads to my anticipation and follow-through once the calendar changes from March 31 to April 1. No longer is there any sense of panic if my trout gear remains in the basement for another few days. I know better days will come, albeit sometimes agonizingly slow in some years.
Fishing for trout on opening day sometimes takes on similar appearances to ice fishing; red-faced anglers are bundled in insulated clothing and wearing gloves. And a thermos of hot coffee or other warming beverage is never too far away. While they may not have to keep skimming ice off the hole they’re fishing through, some years require they pause frequently to remove the accumulated ice that builds up on their rod guides and line. And all in an effort to catch a fish usually less than a foot in length – in winter that would be a perch or sunfish, while on April 1 it’s a “pan-size” trout.
For diehard opening day trout anglers, hope springs eternal, even if it means risking losing all feeling in their hands due to the cold air and water. Truthfully, it’s less about catching fish than snubbing one’s cold, runny nose at a long winter season that seems intent on lasting far too long. But on those rare years when the weather, waters and trout cooperate, the brain magically adopts a firewall-like approach, storing the memories of that day away while conveniently blocking those of bone-chillingly wintery ones.
As of this writing, the DEC had not revealed its trout stocking dates or locations, so most opening day anglers will be on their own in finding catchable trout. In fairness to those who await the trout stockings with bated breath, it’s become increasingly difficult to locate private land streams where permission to trout fish is given. My, how times have changed. In my younger years, just the opposite was true; few landowners minded if you wet a line in a stream that ran through their property, especially if you politely asked permission beforehand. And these often included those who’d never give you permission to hunt.
Opening day trout angling in our area often bears little resemblance to what you’ll see later in the season. Classic flyrodders will be few and far between, as will petite artificial flies casted on long lines and spider web thin leaders. In their place will usually be spinning outfits, monofilament line, earthworms, salted minnows, small marshmallows and perhaps a small spinner or other hardware lure. Generally if you see someone using a fly rod, they’ll be fishing a small brook trout stream with live bait on monofilament line.
If the recent conditions hold up (and that’s always a BIG if this early), most local streams should be in fairly good condition, meaning moderately high flow levels and seasonably warm. We all know how quickly and drastically our late March weather conditions can change; spring-like one day and winter-like the next.
Some popular opening day streams are: Genegantslet, Bowman, Otselic, both branches of theCanasawacta, Fly Meadow, Ludlow, Dark Hollow, Shawler, Pleasant, and Wharton in Otsego County. If not too high and roiled, the uppermost branches of the Chenango and Unadilla rivers can provide fishing opportunities for primarily brown trout. Before heading to any trout stream, be sure to check your current NYS fishing syllabus for regulations and creel and size limits on any waters you plan to fish.
We have many excellent small native brook trout streams in the area, and if worse comes to worst, weather-wise, those are the waters I’d recommend fishing. Leave the bigger ones for later in the season when their fishing and catching conditions improve. Or if the weather turns truly nasty, do like I do these days and leave you trout gear in the basement or garage. Believe me, it’ll get better.
Youth Day At Rockdale April 10
The Rockdale Rod & Gun Club, 312 Rockdale Rd., Mt. Upton, NY, cO-Sponsored with ADIRONDACK-CATSKILL CHAPTER Safari Club International, will host its annual Youth Day April 10 9:00 AM - 2 PM. Ages: 17 and under are FREE. Events: Laser Shot, air-guns, archery, K-9s, game calling and fishing. Free lunch and door prizes. Raffle items drawn that day include three chances for resident lifetime NY Sportsman licenses or $500. For information contact Ron Meek (607) 373-3009 or e-mail: ronandkathy@roadrunner.com
NWTF Banquet April 11
The local National Wild Turkey Federation chapter, the Mid-York Yelpers, will hold its annual banquet on Sunday April 11, 3PM, at the American Legion, 29 Sheldon St. Norwich. It includes a Silent Auction, Live Auction, and raffles. Contact Sean Karns [315] 436-3588 or [315] 861-2115 or Al Marsters [607] 674-9723. Dinner tickets only $25, Single membership and meal $50, Couples $70. Pick up tickets at door after calling.
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks