Fishing engages the mind. It’s an art-“looking for answers to questions”-finding the right bait, the right spot, the right timing.  As Norman MacLean said in A River Runs Through It. 

“Those of us who have been fishing a-long-time have also learned that angling enhances an appreciation of Nature. It bridges all economic, cultural, age and gender differences and more.  It’s an innocent life-long pastime; a simple pleasure that fosters contentment, courage and gratification.”

For many angling families, Opening Day is “the” grand holiday of the inland fishing season.  Tens of thousands of freshwater anglers will be fishing in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and brooks. 

Men, women and children from ages three to eighty-three are out in or by aquatic theaters. There will be long lines of vehicles at most boat launches, parking places will be scarce by 5:30 am and riverine anglers will be rubbing elbows along stream banks until about 8 am. That’s when the cold, hungry, successful and unsuccessful anglers traditionally move from their early morning favorite spots. 

The night before, some will experience sleepless or restless night at home, while others huddled in sleeping blankets to keep warm in campsites. There are traditions to carry out and there are scenarios that are repeated each Opening Day. The breakfast for this special morning for anglers will vary from a luke-warm sandwich by the water, so no one would take a favorite spot, to a Fisherman’s Hearty Breakfast in a warm place.

Last year, NO NEW INLAND STATE RECORD fish were reported caught.  Perhaps, anglers will add at least one this year.