Syracuse.com - Weather for opening day of trout fishing season? Snow or rain is good bet

[HuntingNY-News]

Staff writer/meteorologist David Eichorn went back 20 years to see what the temperature and precipitation patterns have been on April 1.

My memories of the opening day of trout fishing season can be summed in two words: cold and wet.

This week, staff writer/meteorologist David Eichorn went back 20 years to see what the temperature and precipitation patterns have been on April 1.

“Based on the last 20 years, the average high temperature for opening day of trout season is about 52 degrees. That’s pretty close to the 30-year average high of 50,” he said.

“We all know though that in reality, early April can vary a lot from the average,” he added. “So with all the variability we experience this time of year, what is the most probable temperature range we can bet on? It’s roughly 6 degrees either side (above or below) the average. That means it’s more likely we’ll face temperatures between 45 and 58 degrees.

“And then there are “those years,” the ones which defy the averages. The coldest day was in 2003 with a high of 33 degrees, and the warmest was in 2010 with a high of 75.”

Eichorn had this to say about precipitation.

“If you have ever gone out on opening day and not gotten either rained or snowed on, then you were very lucky,” he said. “In the last 20 years, there have only been 5 years when we did not have either rain or snow.”

There's nothing like a little rain or snow while you're on the water to make things seem colder.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog