Countdown To Trout Opener
A beautiful brookie from trout opener a few years ago.
I can hardly believe that trout opener in Southern Ontario is just over two days away. It’s about time! For me, trout opener is like Christmas. It’s the day I look forward to all winter long, and it means more to me with each passing year. Trout opener is a chance to once again interact with my favorite spunky brook trout, a fish that I love more after each catch. They hit like a freight train, jump like I never thought possible, and disappear into places unknown. Opener means that the rivers around my home are finally open and I can once again make short fishing trips at the end of the day to target the brown trout that are more abundant in these parts.
My early fishing days were spent chasing brook trout along a creek on the farm where we lived. Hours were spent there each day, whether I was fishing for those crazy little trout, or giving them a break and observing the water and learning to read it. I have such fond memories of that time, and to this day I believe that creek is why I love fishing so much.
Another nice opening day trout.
Preparing for trout opener actually starts weeks, if not months in advance. Darrell and I discuss what rivers we might like to target on opening weekend – what type of fish do we want to target, what techniques do we want to use, what spots are likely to receive less fishing pressure. That last point is a big one for us – I really don’t like being crowded on the river and opening weekend is when everyone gets out for their first trip, or maybe their only trip of the year. That’s wonderful, actually, I think everyone should get and enjoy a day of fishing, but I’ll avoid the beaten path and try to find somewhere quiet.
Once we’ve decided on a few possible locations, we go and scout the water. We’ll take a walk along stretches of river we’re interested in and see if we can spot any fish, see how the river may have changed since our last visit, and decide if it looks promising.
After scouting, we have to decide what gear we might need for opening weekend. The first rods we rig up are the ultralights and light action rods. These rods are excellent river rods and perfect for the size of trout we are normally targeting. Pairing these with a small reel, light line, and our favorite inline spinners and jigs, we have a great setup to start with. One thing that’s very important is to check the regs for the area you are fishing. Some stretches around here only allow single, barbless hooks, so we take off the treble hooks, replace them with a single, and pinch the barbs. We will usually get the fly rods out as well, check line, and make sure everything is ready to go. This year, we have a spot in mind that would allow us to target some larger rainbow trout so the float rods will also be prepared.
A brown trout from one of my favorite ‘quick trip’ spots.
Waders are also very helpful for trout opener, but not required. I spent my first couple of openers being restricted to areas where the water or mud could not get over my rubber boots. If you don’t mind getting wet, it’s not a big deal, but waders have really made me a happier person when on the river. I plan to pull them out later today to give them a once over, make sure they are clean, and haven’t acquired any rips since I last wore them.
The beginning of trout season is really a magical time, and I encourage everyone to get out and experience it. I’ll be getting out as much as possible now, and look forward to all the laughing and good times that trout will provide me with this season.
argosgirl
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