Of all people I can't believe I'm asking this, but what are everyone's plans for the opening day of trout season?? Are you gonna fish shoulder to shoulder on a popular stream, fish an off-the-radar un-stocked stream away from the crowds, fish for warmwater species, or just stay home?
 
I fish for trout every single month of the year, stockies and wild fish, heck I'll probably be fishing for trout tomorrow, but I still have an opening day tradition. Ever since I was really little I always spent opening day eve at my grandparents house. We'd scout out the stream, eat dinner, get our gear ready, and talk fishing late into the night. The next morning we'd get up super early and head out to a small local ATW to secure our spot. Some years we'd even bring a little camping stove and cook up some breakfast until the 8am start time, and then it was fish on! After a good morning of fishing we'd head back to the house and cook up our catch, and after dinner we'd head back out to catch(and release) a few more if we didn't already fall asleep from the lack of sleep the night before. Doesn't sound like much, but it was always a big day for us, and still is. Nowadays it's hard for my grandpa to fish with us, but he still looks forward to my brother and I coming over every year for opening day and sharing stories with each other.
 
Anyone else have any special traditions they'd like to share?

I had a great opening day last year. Fished Keystone State Park Lake early in the canoe with a trolling motor. The shoreline of the lake was shoulder to shoulder by 630 AM. This year I will take my son and my cousin and his daughter out in our 16 ft sea king and troll for trout. We wont have to show up untill 745, thats the nice thing about having a boat. After Fat limits have been caught by all we will clean fish and drop the kids off with the wives, and go fish one of the local streams.
I will probly stick to what i know and am comfortable with because i know i will do well. Im not gonna lie im daydreaming of an erie trib opening day but i hope i make it there before that. Fish On!

Delaware river striper fishing. 2 30 plus lb fish in last 3 years. 50-60 fish days on boat not uncommon. Netted a friends 51 lb fish in 2011. All my trout fishing is done by opening day, but maybe I should take a limit out there for bait.

 Although I generally fish all year for trout and it's generally off the Grid anyhow, I don't see any reason to change now Troutguy. That's not to say that I won't visit some places close to home [and work] as it has a direct correlation to money available. The more money than can be saved is in direct proportion to the number of trips attempted. 

I hope to be fishing on open water at Pymie. 

I like so many others trout fish almost year round so catching a fish isn't a big deal, but the first day sure is. Going to the same spot with same buddies I have since I was 8 years old. Caught my first trout there, it's the same guys shoulder to shoulder every year, and everyone reminisces on the fish caught the year before, all great guys. Last year I started taking my younger brother and plan to again this year, he's 10. I plan to take the grill and grill up some dogs and burgers for lunch. Gonna be a great day, CAN'T WAIT!

For many years, I'm guessing nearly 20, I headed to a great stocked freestone creek in North Central Pa with my dad, brother and family friends. We rent 2 sites side by side, with our 2 campers set up year round. The campground sits along some of the best trout pools I've ever fished. It's impossible to recant all the stories and memories I've made there. The majority of fish stocked were put in at a metal, open grate highway bridge which had a deep pool directly underneath it. It was always exciting walking the bridge the day before the opener, peering down at the possibilities below. The trout always had a knack of holding in the deepest most inaccessible sections of the pool directly under the bridge. Concrete piers channeled the water underneath the bridge and the water was swift and deep. Boulder size rocks below the water level ran along the piers beneath the bridge and made for a precarious perch. How many times I was under that old bridge in the cold pouring rain with the roar of truck traffic rattling my ear drums as they passed above. I relocated to TN in 2011 for my job, my family still makes the trip. I'll probably be floating in my fishing kayak somewhere looking for brown or green fish on the first day this year.
 
Tightlines!!
 
 

I'll be with the army for drill weekend for the 10th trout opener in a row. I swear it's like they are against trout fishing cause they keep scheduling drill on that weekend. Good luck to all going

Fish the same creek I have since I was a kid, my family owns stream property on a stocked stream, so I have my choice of spots on that side of the creek pretty much to myself.
 
After that, everyday somewhere else, mostly streams, not much into lake fishing for trout after March, unless it's with my kids.

Don't go out to much on opening days anymore but we had a blast over the years. We would all gather along Shenango River around 7 am. for many years. There would be anywhere from 5 - 10 of us old friends almost every year. Some years we never seen each other till that morning but usually all showed up like clock work even if it was snowing ! We would all talk about everything under the sun till 8 am. Then it was on ! Of course we always wagered 5 bucks each on who would catch the biggest and most Trout. Usually by 11 am. we were ready to call it a day and head to the local Sharpsville Tavern for a few beers and some sandwiches. Funny thing is nobody ever paid the winner ! I know cause I won almost every year ! Those were old good days..............
 

 
Couple of fat stockies for the smoker !

Enjoy opening day !