Traditions - such as the Opening of the (regular) Trout Fishing Season in New York State on April 1- are near and dear to the heart of many, a date that has been eagerly looked forward to during this long, cold and bitter winter, that came in early and stayed late - a date that for generations has brought with it the promises of spring and the hope of catching trout.
Here in our area of the Catskill Mountains, Opening Day is celebrated with the “First Cast” - at 7:00 a.m. on April 1, when an esteemed trout fisher does the honors of casting the first line to “officially” open the season. And this year, Roscoe’s Manny Zanger, past President and current Advisor of the Beamoc Chapter of Trout Unlimited, is being honored and will be making the First Cast down at Junction Pool.
While many of us have been tying flies for weeks to prepare for the season, there is still plenty of time to do the necessary checking of equipment before next Wednesday’s opener. Be sure to check your waders (both hip boots and chest waders) for holes or tears in the fabric. If you stored your waders in the sun, or in a folded condition, watch for cracks. Take your waders in a dark closet, and with a flashlight inside them, carefully watch for any light penetrating the darkness – sometimes a worn spot may not be apparent in daylight but will spring a leak when subjected to water pressure. Another method involves filling the waders with water and suspending them either outside or above the bathtub to watch for leaks. If you choose this method, don’t wait until the night before you plan to fish, as you won’t have time to dry your boots in time! There are a number of wader patch kits on the market – some are ‘fix-alls’ and others are specific to the brand of waders you have. Any of the fishing shops in our towns should have what you need.
Inspect your net – often if a net is put away without rinsing it thoroughly, the mesh can deteriorate over the winter. It is very frustrating to catch a fish and then have it swoop through a “hole” in your net bag that you weren’t aware of – even if you don’t lose the fish, you’ll have a more difficult time removing the hook. Short of replacing the net, the mesh bags are relatively inexpensive and can be re-strung in an evening.
This is a good time to empty out and wash your fishing vest. Throw away any old sunscreen or fly repellant and replace those items. Check your tippets to see if there is enough left on the spools, and watch for the expiration dates that many now come with. Do you have an extra leader or two? Sunglasses? Clippers? A rainjacket? Plenty of flies?
Check your rod guides for any burrs or rough spots that can compromise your line, as well as for loose windings. Be sure that the ferrules are snug.
Your reel should be taken apart and cleaned and oiled if necessary.
Last but not least, tie on a new leader. This little bit of effort on your part will ensure that there are no old windknots or stretched areas that could mean the difference between a fish caught, and a fish hooked but lost.