It almost goes without saying that one needs to put his line in the water in order to fish.
And, for the majority of Pennsylvania's anglers, it is almost time to get out there and go fishing. At least that is the case in the Southeast Region, where the regional opening day of the trout season - which, for many, represents fishing season - is Saturday, March 29. For the rest of the state, opening day is Saturday, April 12, but no matter when or where one fishes, the key to a successful day on the water begins with planning.
Where to fish is probably the question that is first and foremost on anglers' minds. But that should not be a problem because by the time the regular season opens the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, along with cooperative nurseries and sportsmen's organizations, will have stocked more than 3 million adult trout in 731 streams and 124 lakes open to public angling. A list of the streams and lakes that have received trout is printed in the summary booklet of 2014 fishing regulations that is available at licensing agents and also on the PFBC website.
While deciding where to fish is an important aspect of opening day, perhaps the most important item is to check out the condition of one's gear and tackle. Those boots that had a damp spot in the knee last season have not sealed themselves over the winter, so now is the time to patch them.
Most often, avoiding problems on the water requires no more advanced planning than inspecting the soles of shoes and boots and the suspenders on waders. Now is the time to get those items repaired or replaced, as nothing will ruin a day of fishing faster than cold water pouring through boots or over waders.
Whether one is a fly fisher, a spin fisher or a bait fisher, each requires preparation for the season. It is important to clean fly lines to remove all the crud that accumulated last year, and tying some new leaders may be wise. Leaders have a tendency to degrade over time, and while they may look to be in good condition, a hard strike from a large trout lurking under a log against a far bank is the worst time to find out it has deteriorated.
Clean reels and make sure they are properly lubricated and that the drag is working smoothly. For spinning reels, it may be time to replace the line if unsure when the last time new line was put on the reel. The same goes with baitcasting and spincasting reels.
Inspecting rods to make sure there are no burrs or other damage to the guides is simply done by using a cotton swab to wipe around the guides. If strands from the swab are seen on the guide, it has a burr and should be smoothed out with very fine emery paper or replaced entirely.
Now that the rod and reel have been checked out, the next thing to do is get the gear in order. That begins by completely emptying the pockets of fishing vests and everything that has been carried around.
Chances are no one needs the three pairs of nippers, four bottles of fly flotation, candy wrappers, empty leader spools, rusted hooks and that indiscernible piece of black gunk from the inside pocket. It can all be discarded.
This is also a good time for fly anglers to make sure fly boxes are filled with patterns that are going to be used early in the season.
Boxes of spinners should be inspected and hooks that are rusted or bent should be replaced. Blades and shafts should also be replaced if they are bent or corroded. For those who prefer to use lead head jigs, repaint heads that are chipped, cracked and otherwise damaged.
As a general rule, sharpen all hooks, not just those that seem a bit dull. For any hook, be it a fly, spinner or jig, if it fails to stick when dragged across a thumbnail, it needs to be sharpened.
One final bit of preparation often overlooked is getting outside and practicing casting. Like riding a bike, one never really forgets how to cast, but it never hurts to do some fine tuning before hitting the stream.
Casting to a trout under the tree becomes a whole lot easier if the motion has been practiced and muscle memory retuned. A little practice can also improve the disposition of neighboring anglers as all stand shoulder to shoulder along the bank of a lake or around a favored pool.
So, get prepared now for the opening of trout season. It makes for a much better day when the time arrives to get a line in the water.