Trout season starts: This was the scene here at Roaring River State Park at 6:30 this morning. When I realized I'd been going to opening day (only missing a few) for 60 years, I had to...

Tablerockbass Loc: Table Rock Lake

This was the scene here at Roaring River State Park at 6:30 this morning. When I realized I'd been going to opening day (only missing a few) for 60 years, I had to stop just to digest that thought! One of the best, weather-wise, opening days on record. In 2 days, however, the scene will dramatically change as flooding rains are forecast. Here in Missouri they say "just wait a day, the weather will change".

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

What can possibly go wrong? 😂

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

Tablerockbass wrote:

This was the scene here at Roaring River State Park at 6:30 this morning. When I realized I'd been going to opening day (only missing a few) for 60 years, I had to stop just to digest that thought! One of the best, weather-wise, opening days on record. In 2 days, however, the scene will dramatically change as flooding rains are forecast. Here in Missouri they say "just wait a day, the weather will change".

I recall a beautiful sunny day fly fishing in Wrentham. May 9th 1977. we were waist deep in the water when it suddenly started snowing!! turned into a blizzard. we got about 4" of heavy wet snow. as most of the trees had leafed out by then the damage was extensive. three days later the snow was gone and the roadsides where littered with downed branches. only place I've ever been where the sky was blue, the sun was shining and it was snowing...

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Looks like a great place to fish...but holy cow...look at the competition! I hope that you are able to enjoy the start of your season in a place that might offer more solitude away from the crowds!

Tablerockbass Loc: Table Rock Lake

fishyaker wrote:

Looks like a great place to fish...but holy cow...look at the competition! I hope that you are able to enjoy the start of your season in a place that might offer more solitude away from the crowds!

Know what's interesting about this picture? Attendance is down. Not too many years ago, fisherfolks were packed in nearly touching shoulders. Ya gotta know there were lots of tangled lines, next to each other and across the river. Didn't really bother anyone as it's such a big event down here. So big that several years ago, they started calling off school because so many of us skipped to be here. It's a holiday! (not so much for the shiny trout)

ShortorderCook62 Loc: Grand Junction, Colorado

Wife and I spent our honeymoon there June 28, 1964. It's a madhouse when that horn goes off. Brings back memories!

Tablerockbass Loc: Table Rock Lake

ShortorderCook62 wrote:

Wife and I spent our honeymoon there June 28, 1964. It's a madhouse when that horn goes off. Brings back memories!

We'll, if you ventured a few miles over to see the lake at Eagle Rock, you might've gassed up at my folks' store. Full service!!

MoJoe Loc: Springfield, MO

Very much reminds me of growing up in northern New Jersey and fishing the ramapo River just south of Suffern New York. Fisherman were everywhere, circling the pools in some of the smaller streams and wading in waist deep water until the magic hour of 8:00 came along. Hooks were baited 15 minutes ahead of time and everyone looked up and down the stream to see if somebody had cast in already. Often, when circling a pool, you would have everyone cast out at 8:00 and create a giant spider web. The good old days?!

Tablerockbass Loc: Table Rock Lake

MoJoe wrote:

Very much reminds me of growing up in northern New... (show quote)

Agreed. The good ole days were great. You just reminded me of an awful image from a couple of years ago. Covid trout fishing. Folks had to stand 6' apart, they pulled the iconic and very popular fire barrels to keep people away from each other. It was awful. Love thy neighbor and bein close enough to hear them talk is much more gooder.

Cougar Loc: Tennessee/Michigan

That picture reminds me of the Grand River and Rogue River by Grand Rapids,Michigan when I was a kid. Guys were fishing for Steelhead,Salmon. We still caught a lot of fish even shoulder to shoulder!! Now it’s a lot quieter at these places. Enjoy your fishing and outdoor experience.

ShortorderCook62 Loc: Grand Junction, Colorado

And gas was $.25 9/10 per gallon. Wow, the good old days!

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Wow, trout fishing really sucks.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

Tablerockbass wrote:

This was the scene here at Roaring River State Park at 6:30 this morning. When I realized I'd been going to opening day (only missing a few) for 60 years, I had to stop just to digest that thought! One of the best, weather-wise, opening days on record. In 2 days, however, the scene will dramatically change as flooding rains are forecast. Here in Missouri they say "just wait a day, the weather will change".

I've never been a fan of opening day crowds, I wait a couple or few weeks, less people typically, better yet a year round fishery to where there are no mad rushes to get back to it...just when the fish are biting in regards to conditions.

Tablerockbass Loc: Table Rock Lake

woodguru wrote:

I've never been a fan of opening day crowds, I wait a couple or few weeks, less people typically, better yet a year round fishery to where there are no mad rushes to get back to it...just when the fish are biting in regards to conditions.

I think my opening story was incomplete. Some chuckle at me, asking "why do you go if you don't fish? That's just it. I may have fished one or two opening days when I was just a squirt of 10 or 11, but I soon discovered bass and gave up trout'n entirely. I did occasionally take some Velveeta and corn wayyyyyy downstream, out of the lark and certainly away from the crowds to catch a rainbow or two. Cleaning and prepping them was never my favorite, either. When I was young, I had no idea you could fillet a trout. I just knew that pickin bones was part of the eatin! Wasn't until some 20 years later, on a business trip to Kansas City, I treated myself to a nice dinner at the plaza. Grilled trout was on the menu, NO BONES! Of course I tried it, but never developed a taste for trout. Rambling here. Apologies. Back to opening day-I go for the nostalgia, get the commemorative coffee cup, breathe in the smells, shake some friends' hands and celebrate another March 1st, when things get going here in the Ozarks.

TBoneWyo Loc: Washington MO

They release a bunch of huge trout on the opener in Missouri. So you have a chance at catching multiple huge fish!!! That’s another reason why it’s so crowded.