April 1

[Pygmy]

Although special regs allow us to fish certain waters year round, April 1 remains the official statewide trout opener and always has been a special day..

The streams that I fish most in early season are tributaries of local rivers...Most, if not all of them are NOT stocked...The trout in them are either stream bred or are holdover stocked fish that have lived in the rivers a year or two and then ascended the tribs and taken up residence there..

On these small streams I fish  nightcrawlers on a # 6 hook hooked once through the collar...It is critical to fish JUST the right amount of split shot so that the bait tumbles naturally along the bottom in the current.. I fish a 6 1/2 foot light spinning rig with 6 lb. test mono..  I have tried 4 lb. test and like the way it fishes, but the extra line strength of the 6 lb. test is sometimes needed to muscle fish away from timber and flood trash when they are hooked.. 4 lb. test results in too many breakoffs in the cramped quarters of small, brushy streams..

Every year I catch a number of brown trout in the 17 to 20 inch range, with an occasional lunker over 20".. These are beautiful, wild fish, and although I think they taste very good, I can't bring myself to kill many of them...I usually only a keep a trout if it is hooked deeply and I don't think it will survive...That is one down side to using bait, mortality is somewhat higher than other methods..

The stocked streams and the Finger Lakes feeders streams get the most pressure..I  see very few fishermen on the streams that I fish...

I a couple of weeks I'll break out the fly rod and concentrate on the larger waters... However,the next couple of weeks will see me sneaking around small brushy, obscure creeks where the trout are big and wild, and I am more likely to see a mink or an otter than another fisherman...

[nyantler]

Years ago I had 3 custom rods made for me by an old-timer who has since passed on... two 5' ultra light spinning rods and a lightweight 7' flyrod...  I too went from 4# to 6# test for the same reason... I never fish with live bait... I use Panther Martin spinners of varying sizes exclusively ... and fish catch and release... except for one day a year where I fish a favorite spot in the Northern tier with a few friends and my sons.. on that day we cook up brook trout right there at the stream...a tradition that started about 20 years ago. I usually pass on fishing the opener due to the number of guys on the streams... and because it is usually too cold and the water too fast for spin fishing... the fish also are very lethargic and have a bit of trouble catching up to the lure in the fast moving waters.. May is usually when my opener starts.. for fly ishing and spin fishing

[Pygmy]

Yeah, Joe, I agree that the hardware becomes more effective after the water warms a little...

I generally only use bait the first couple of weeks..

I've done a lot of trout fishing over the years with UL spinning tackle and spinners or small plugs and they are deadly when conditions are right..

Mostly, though, after a few early season trips with bait, I switch pretty much exclusively to flies.. I love fishing dry flies, but of late I have been fishing weighted nymphs a lot...Sometimes the trout aren't feeding on top, but they always seem ready to take a beadhead Prince nymph, hare's ear or pheasant tail...

[nyantler]

Don't get me wrong.. I'm not against using live bait it is a very effective way to catch trout.. it just doesn't do it for me.. the tap tap on the line just isn't as exciting as when the trout comes out from under a rock or undercut bank and hammers the lure.. or explodes the water when they nab a dry fly.

[noodle one]

I fish the west branch Delaware river for big browns and rainbows. I float fish with a center pin and 13'6" noodle rod. The first part of the season I use bait , worms, meal worms ,wax worms, and salted minnows. When the first of May comes around I like to use trout beads and pink worms.

[Pygmy]

That is some classic trout water, noodle...

I have fished it with dry flies and it has been a very humbling experience...

Lots of very big, very SMART trout... ;D ....

[nyantler]

Classic trout water to say the least... great fishing on the Delaware

[noodle one]

  I feel it is one of the best wild trout rivers on the east coast, if not the best. The good part about it , I live only a half hour away and I can fish it every day if I want.

[nyantler]

  I feel it is one of the best wild trout rivers on the east coast, if not the best. The good part about it , I live only a half hour away and I can fish it every day if I want.

Lucky guy!! I like the Ausable River as well.. but haven't fished it in quite some time