Opening Day

I am stir crazy.  This winter has been relentless. Like most Rhode Islanders, I am sick of it, or maybe just used to it. Around here, we don’t let a little snow keep us down for long. We grumble while we scrape ice off the windshield, and we get back to work. We park our cars on snowbanks and walk through waist-high paths of ice and snow. I bet most of you have slipped on your ass a few times. I know I have. People are getting edgy out there. It will all end soon, but I bet we will get one more storm before it is over. I say bring it on.

This is about the time of year that my fishing buddies start reaching out to each other. We put out mass text messages. “Does anyone want to go fishing on opening day?” Some respond with things like, “Hellz yeah!” Some don’t respond. With each passing year, the attendance of our group is smaller — I guess we’re growing up. With or without us, on April 11, 20,000 anglers will hit the rivers and ponds of Rhode Island in pursuit of the 80,000 rainbow trout that are stocked by RIDEM.

Opening Day is a time-honored tradition shared by families, loners and all kinds of people who get up early on their day off. Some anglers spend the afternoon quietly floating around with a friend in a boat. Others stand waist high in fast-moving rivers wearing waders. Some bring a cooler of beer and a lawn chair, and spend the day sitting on a dock. Whatever the approach, it is a beloved ritual that spans generations, and it is just around the corner.

If you want to go, but are unfamiliar with the process, there are a few things to consider. For one, the DEM might be around to supervise, and agents can ask to see your fishing license. If you don’t have one, there can be real consequences. Do yourself a favor and get the license. You can purchase it online at dem.ri.gov, or you can pick one up at most baitshops. There is always Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods or Bass Pro as well, but I like to go to Benny’s. I just fill out a little paperwork, buy some in-line spinners (my favorite lure), then I am good to go. If you plan on taking any fish home to eat, you also have to buy a trout stamp.

Set your alarm for 4am to give yourself enough time to get your shit together and make it to your spot by 6am. That is when you can officially make your first cast of trout season in Rhode Island. You probably want to get there a little early so the good spots are not taken. I usually arrive at 5am and beat the crowd.

As the sun slowly rises, you can see the look of anticipation on the faces of the other anglers nearby. They are counting down the minutes. If you cast early, you risk getting glares from surrounding fishermen, though I find year after year that it is socially acceptable to cast at 5:59, maybe about 30 seconds in. Immediately after, lines begin to fly. It is usually not long until someone’s rod is bent and the frenzy begins. Why do we drag ourselves out of bed so early to do this? Well, it  only happens once a year.

You can check the RIDEM website for more info on where to go. I am a fan of asking the guys at the baitshop. They are usually happy to assist, and if they are anything but happy to do so, they don’t need your business. A little piece of conventional wisdom that I often find to be true is to use dark lures in darker, murky water, and shiny, lighter colored lures in clearer water. If you are into the waiting game, there is always the classic worm on a hook. Put a bobber about a foot or so above the hook on the line, cast out and let it sit. That is about as close as you can get to a guarantee.