Memories of Opening Day

[MACFLY]

As my wife and I were driving by Mainstream Outfitters this evening, the lights were on and the parking lot had about 6 cars parked in front. The adjoining bait and tackle shop was open as well. I realized that tomorrow was the opener for southeastern PA and I was reminded about opening day in NJ growing up as a kid. Opening holds a special place in my mind since it was one of the few times we were able to go and fish the "good streams" such as the Musky or the South Branch. I remember the first time we went on Opening to the Musky and my dad let me take my friend. We didnt have waders and our gear was fairly old but everything about that day and the excitement leading up to it will be etched in my mind forever. My dad spent the better part of the day untangling my line. My friend waded across the river in his jeans. My mom would pack these monster lunches for us to eat. each year I became a little more proficient and the weeks leading up to opening day were spent checking my gear and the weather (back then it always seemed the rivers would get flooded or it would be cold or both). It didnt matter as we always went. Even in my teens Opening day was an event that we never missed. I remember being old enough to buy my own ultralight fishing outfit and I ordered the Daiwa minisping outfit complete the Diawa silver series 500 spinning reel and 4 1/2 foot rod. My brother and my friend staked out the pool upstream from the general store and proceeded to clean up. Some years my dad would come and other years he didnt make it. When he did come he was famous for fishing a couple of hours and then heading to the general store for a cup of coffee and a danish. I could pretty much count on seeing his pole in front of the store around 10:00am on opening day as I was moving from one spot to the next. The older I got the more I fished and it was not unusual to fish year round but opening day was still special. After I joined the service I didnt make it back for opening day but I always thought about it. About that time I started seriously flyfishing and that led me to far off waters with more glorious pursuits. My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and a couple of weeks ago I was entertaining the idea of taking her out to the local pond in Doylestown. Due to an illness in the family we will forego that this year but I did pick her up her own Dora the Explorer fishing outfit yesterday (sorry no flyrod yet). In any event I am getting that feeling again about the opening of the season when everything is set out before you and you are literally chomping to get on the stream. For me opening day was a ritual that although I dont partake of it any longer ( at least not until next year with my daughter) still fills my mind with many happy memories. Its clearly not for everyone but as a kid growing up in NJ it was one of the most precious memories I will hold. To all who venture out tomorrow either with friends or your children or even by yourself, I wish you a succesful season but more so I wish you some great memories. I think its one of the truly great things about fishing..time spent alone or with those closest to you wading a cold stream with knowledge that at any moment your line can go taut and your rod will bend and you will be connected to something magical..that never gets old and will always bring a smile to your face and a memory to be cherished. Tight Lines

 

[babyblue]

My fondest memory of opening day was April 1972 at Musky in Asbury. It was the first opening day that I was allowed to go by myself. I was 9 years old. I had been bugging my parents for fishing equipment all winter, and on my birthday in March I got my first rig. Being that I lived in the house that overlooked the the mill in Asbury, it was a short walk to the river. I remember that there had to be 50 to 75 people on the bridges and in the water, it was always packed in those days. I was a kid, it was hard to get a spot on the bridge, no waders, I couldn't get in the water, so I went around the old mill to the mill race that flowed under the old mill. We mostly caught rock bass there I remember. I remember seeing a trout that was close to the bank and trying to catch it, which, for some reason I couldn't. Then the bank gave way and in I went. It felt like an eternity, watching the bank go by under water. Then Danny Brandt, aka Heavy, he was a big guy, and still is, pulled me out. I begged him not to take me home, I knew my mother would not let me go back. So I sat in his car for a long time drying out, I never told my parents till years later. That was my first, and , almost my last opening day.

 

[miserjoe]

Yeah, opening day is something special. AS much as some people complain about it, it is truly a unique day that puts more people out in the environment than any other. After spending a good many years in Alaska that has no opening day, I remember having transfered back to PA and that first opening day felt oh so good. Didn't mind the crowds, the wait for 8am, I just didn't care, all I remember were those five trout in 13 minutes and happy as all he!!. And each opening day is something to remember.

I'll never forget Fernridge campground closing and losing tobyhanna creek for my opening day tradition after 10 years of learning that creek. I'll never forget the 3 opening days I spent at Francis Walter, One time actually flying down special from Alaska to try it. I'll always remember the day I put my trust into Appenzell Creek for opening day and having my dad land a 27 inch brown and quitting with that lone fish on his stringer. I'll never forget last year, the first southeast openener, on my infamous creek in Allentown limiting out in 2 hours with an 8 pound brown, 2 other 5 pound rainbows and two twelve inchers. Yesterday, 6 of us limited out with a combined weight of 97 1/4 pounds of trout with the prize going to an 8 pound rainbow. I had the big brown at 7 pounds and the four other rainbows were all 3-4 pound (the stringer on the BogaGrip weighed in at 20 3/4 pounds). What was more memorable was having my wife limit out before everyone else (with a 14 pound stringer) and having some of these guys ask her if they could buy her salmon roe off of her. She felt so proud and me even more so.

We've all seen the fist fights, we've all seen the palomino that wouldn't hit, we've all lost that opening day breeder, and we've all been skunked, I'm sure. We all have our memories and i'm pretty sure they all are good ones.

Dr. JM

 

[theartoflee]

My favorite memory of opening day would have to be last year. As a kid I never really got to fish opening day. Even as an adult I dont even think I participated in the opening day.

However last year, I spent it with a close friend and his two kids. After fishing midges all winter and tying flies nothing was more fun then breaking out the spinning gear and a rapala. Quickly I could easily see how some people on another site put the numbers on the board. Those stockies really could not control them selves. After hooking a bleeched out bow I would quickly pass the rod to my friends child. One would fight the fish while the other operated the net.

The look on the kids faces was priceless while all the while my friend and I got to act like children also. This opening day I am entertaining taking my nephew fishing. He is two and loves hockey but unfortunately is a Devils fan.