It’s Time For Trout
A CHECKLIST FOR OPENING DAY
By BRETT MARTIN

The first day of trout season is always something special. for fishermen, it’s like the arrival of spring,  a fresh start. The water is usually still high and very cold and in remote places you may even find some leftover ice or snow. Everyone in the Twin Tiers knows the weather is a crazy thing, but as far as fishing goes, we have some of the best. Stocked streams are full of hatchery trout and the wild and native streams are coming back to life with a lot of hungry brookies and brown trout. But to catch them, we need to have everything in order

Rod. For opening day, we need to prepare our equipment first. Start out with a five- to seven-foot ultralight or light-action rod. I like to check my rods over and make sure there are no cracks or failure points; the worst thing is losing that big fish over a busted rod. Look for: flex of rod; reel seat operating properly, the eyes where your line goes through need to be smooth and no nicks or jagged edges, etc.

Reel. I choose an ultralight or light reel that matches my rod and can hold two- to six-pound test line. Is it functioning properly? Does it need a little lubrication? I say “little” because too many people over-lubricate and that means a gummy mess. Does the spool close correctly? Is the drag working properly? Drags should be set so that the hook does not set too loose or so tight that you rip the jaw right off your catch.

Line. Depending on preference, use anything from two- to six-pound test line. It’s best to replace your line every year. If you fish often, the line will need to be changed more often. Open the spool, pull out forty to fifty feet of line, and slide it through your fingertips. It should be smooth with no bumps, splits, nicks or gashes. Your line takes a lot of abuse under water.

Tackle. You want a good collection of spinners sizes 0 to 2 and hard baits such as crawfish or minnow imitations. Make sure their hooks are sharp. Hooks will dull over time and a dull hook will not set properly. Bait hooks should also be sharpened or replaced. I cannot say it enough: go sharp or go home. This is the biggest cause of lost fish. It’s a good idea to have enough weights or split-shot and swivels if you prefer to use them. Usually, opening day means high water that’s moving faster than normal, so a little weight is required to slow down your lure or bait and give it some depth. Floats are also a good thing to put on your checklist. If you have old floats, make sure they do float before going out on the opener.

Bait fisherman, get your bait a few days in advance; the worst thing that can happen is to not get your favorite on opening day. Night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, wax worms, minnows, and maggots are all popular first-day baits. Canned corn is another favorite “live” bait, especially in slow water, with a red worm or night crawler. Use a blower to get a little air inside the worm and, using a size six or eight hook, spear a corn kernel up toward the hook eye. Then hook your blown worm up to the corn. When fished, the air inside the worm makes it float. If you add a little weight, about twenty-four inches up the line from the hook, the worm will float just off the bottom and the corn gives it a little color. It works and it’s a good one for the kids.
So now our rod and reel are ready, all our hooks are sharpened or are new, our spinners and hard baits are ready, and we have our bait list. What else? Are you going to go in the water? Don’t get cold.

Waders. Required. On most small streams, hip boats will do the trick; on bigger water, however, chest waders may be a better choice. Make sure yours do not leak. Turn them inside-out and fill with water; if water spots appears, patch or replace. Or just deal with cold feet. With waders, you can access more areas easier; however, those rocks can be very slippery and be careful of fast-flowing water, it is a surprisingly powerful thing.

Info. We’re just about set, but where are we going? What will conditions be like? Will it be sixty-five degrees or thirty? The quickest place to get information for North Central PA is on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site. It shows exactly what streams are stocked and an estimated number of stocked fish in each location. They also list Class A Wild Trout Streams (unstocked), most of which are in remote settings. You will also want know weather and the water conditions. The National Weather Service, and the State College, Pennsylvania are good Web sites to check for accurate Central PA weather forecasts, including those for Tioga and Potter counties. Many fishermen don’t check water conditions, but doing so can be very useful. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) monitors many rivers and streams by satellite. Google or Yahoo-search by using the keywords: USGS, real-time water data, Pennsylvania. There you will find a PA map with all the streams monitored; click on the one you want to find water levels, flow, and, in some cases, precipitation.

After checking these important details and going over our equipment, it is time to relax and wait till that magical time strikes on the first morning and you get line wet for the first time in a long time. Wait for that gentle tug and give a little tug back, that’s what it is all about. Actually, it is all about having fun, enjoying nature, and especially being with friends and family. Good luck and tight lines.

Brett Martin, a first-time contributor for Mountain Home, is archery manager for Ackley & Sons, Westfield, Pennsylvania, and a state-licensed fly-fishing guide for Nature Quest in Wellsboro.