Pocono News Section

Preparing for the Start of Trout Season

Preparing for the Start of Trout Season - Friday, April 11, 2008 at 6:52PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Friday, Apr 11, 2008 @06:52pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Saturday is a big day for anglers all across the state of Pennsylvania. Trout season officially opens at 8:00 AM.

The banks of Roaring Brook creek were empty Friday afternoon, but Saturday morning they will be filled with hundreds of fisherman/women. Waterways Conservation officer Walter Buckman expects this year's opening day to be one of the best.

"I think it's going to go real, real well and I base that on water temperatures in the mid-40's when we stocked the streams. The temperatures maybe have come up close to 50-degrees, which is really the best temperature for trout," Buckman said.

Besides being outdoors, many anglers say the reason they come out on opening day is to spend time with family and friends. The "One Stop Sports Shop" in Scranton was packed with people who can't wait to get out on the water. More than one million anglers are expected to hit the rivers and streams across Pennsylvania on Saturday. That means big business as people check on their rods and reels.

"It's one of the better days of the season because everybody's getting ready for spring fishing and it doesn't matter that they're just going for trout," Stanley Miezejewski said.

With live bait selling fast, it seems as if almost everyone has their own tradition on opening day.

"The first day, I keep them (trout), after that I turn to fly fishing and throw them all back," Ed Purell of Duryea said.

"I can never say how I expect to do. I hope to be successful," Mike Fredmonski of Moosic said.

Anyone who is over the age of 16 is required to have a valid fishing license and trout fishing stamp.