March 7, 2007 on the
Upper Allegheny Delayed Harvest Artificial
Lures Project. Almost ideal conditions to open the 2007
season.
An Old Geezer’s Opening Day
A couple of weeks ago, March 7, was a beautiful, warm, pre-spring day with temperatures near 60 degrees. Water conditions were almost perfect. I caught my first trout of the 2007 season. Nothing outstanding, mind you, but a 16-inch rainbow to kick off the new year is acceptable in my book. (Note that I didn’t say “open the season”). In a couple of hours of fishing I met two spin fishermen on the stream, one of whom caught five, while the other was out because “he was pretty much crazy from sitting around all winter.” Amen! This took place on the Allegheny River DHAL Project.
Wait a minute…the season doesn’t open until Saturday, April 14, right? What was I doing on the stream - tempting fate and a fine at the hands of an irate fish warden? Year after year, I patiently go through the explanation, to fisherman and non-fisherman alike. It would appear that the public “mind set,” burned into the sub-conscious almost one hundred years ago, will never change. Despite the best efforts of the Fish Commission to adapt and adjust to the changing times, and to publicize its efforts, the public somehow can’t seem to understand that “Opening Day” is almost a relic of the past.
The non-fisherman may be excused by default. After all, he has little opportunity or motivation to be informed. But there is no excuse for the person who buys a fishing license. Each purchase is accompanied by a 48-page “book” chock full of all kinds of useful information - including, for the first time, a clear county-by-county listing and description of which waters are under special regulations.
All over the state, on scores of streams, the Commission has established special regulation areas where fishing is permitted year ‘round. About 15 years ago, one of these, the Allegheny River Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures project was set up. A 2.7 mile section of the river was set aside, specially stocked and maintained for the enjoyment of all fishermen using artificial lures. For the catch and release fisherman, it equates to unrestricted year ‘round fishing; for those who harvest, it means that one is limited to no more than three fish at least 9 inches long per day from June 15 to Labor Day. A sister project on the First Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek provides for 2.1 miles of fishing at anytime of the year.
I can remember when trout season ended on Labor Day all over the state. I remember the old fisherman’s mantra that one should not fish in the fall because it would disturb the spawning trout. It didn’t quite make sense as spawning actually occurs later on in November, but that was the accepted wisdom then. In 1975, the Fish Commission created the “Extended Season,” which pushed the closing date back to October 31. Did trout continue to spawn? Yes. Sometime in the intervening years, the Commission extended the season yet again to December 31 and opened up the period from January 1 to February 28. In effect, the stocked streams are now open to fishing all year long, except for the six week period of the month of March through the night before “opening day.” And, as stated, the Special Regulation waters.
Does this not begin to sound like a plan? Especially when this year, for the first time, the fishermen of 18 southeastern counties will be able to start fishing on March 31. And for good reason. These waters, because of the more benign climate in that part of the state, are fishable earlier than our northern streams and they deteriorate, because of warming, that much sooner than ours. So this common sense gambit by the commission ensures that these folks will have a decently long season.
But wait a minute. Isn’t all of this opening and closing by the calendar a lot of unnecessary micro management? Why not just have trout fishing year ‘round throughout the state. Why not, indeed! One would think that such an arrangement would mark Pennsylvania as one of the more progressive states and might attract even more out-of-state fishermen. In an era when getting out the good public relations message is all the rage it might be worth considering.
Well, let’s take a look at some of the consequences of such a shattering new rule. How in the world would the diehard traditionalist orient him or herself to the new order! How would they know when to open camp, for example? Or plan the fund raising event for the local fishing club? Or order their annual supply of flies? Or a host of other activities all centering on the most holy of holies – “Opening Day.” (One might point out the federal government shifts holidays around each year to create long weekends and no one seems to mind).
Admittedly, it probably would take the passing of a whole generation before the “opening day” syndrome could be laid to rest. But the real question is: would it seriously be missed? Don’t sensible fishermen adjust their outings to weather and stream conditions anyway? In short, it would make a lot of tedious baloney and idle chatter about “the good old days” meaningless – therein lies the crux of the matter. Whole battalions of wannabe fisherman would be left without their favorite opening: “Many years ago on opening day, I was fishing…(fill in the rambling romanticized blank)…!”
From time immemorial the Fish Commission itself has counted on the six-week period when the streams have been closed to conduct stocking. With good reason, as I can attest, having been on many stocking trips. Drive up to any stream with a truck-load of trout and what a few moments before was a quiet, sylvan setting, becomes a madhouse of citizen “helpers,” many of whom are there not so much to help, but to “scope out” the number and condition of the trout, and to get underfoot. And tons of B.S., to boot. Stocking is strenuous work and is best done by younger men and women in good physical condition. What the hatchery men don’t need is a bunch of pot-bellied, wheezing old timers standing around telling them what to do.
Quite frankly, one can empathize with the Fish Commission for wanting to keep stocking low-key. One can imagine what it would be like if the same situation permitted these citizens to dash into the stream and fish! In-season stockings are best performed as stealth operations, for this reason.
But, does it have to be this way? Could year-‘round fishing and stocking coexist? With the powers vested in the Commission, why can’t strict regulations be put into effect which expressly prohibit anyone from fishing within a certain distance of any stocking truck, even, perhaps to the point of closing down the stream for the day, with suitable advance notice. Were it not for the behavior of the rubber-necking public, it probably wouldn’t be an issue and stocking could proceed efficiently and no special regs would be needed.
As it is, the Commission, with over 3.4 million trout to stock before opening day, has had to resort to the 6 week closed-season window simply to be able to do its job properly. It is enough of a problem that the Commission has a special page on its website advising “would be stockers” of its policies [http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/stock_help.htm]. It would take many years, probably, to change the behavior of the fishing public to the point where stocking and fishing could proceed side by side without problems.
License sales. This is probably the most persuasive argument for maintaining opening day. Historically, the fish Commission has counted on everyone running out and buying their license just before opening day. The sudden infusion of funds to the FC coffers are sorely needed each year. Outfitters, manufacturers and tourism agencies are also wedded to this idea. It would take many years of careful adjustment of the books to be able to, for example, make one’s fishing license renewal on one’s birthday, which is now possible in this new electronic age. What if everyone had to renew his or her driver’s license on a certain day of each year. Instead, we do it on or before our birthday. Easy to remember.
I should think it might actually help the Commission in the long term to develop a stable funding program: license revenues would level out to a steady state throughout the year. Ditto with the retailers of fishing gear: the retailer could organize and plan his display space for the long term, rather than frantically put up and tear down as the hunting and fishing seasons come and go. And the tourism folk could plan a consistent year-long “come hither” message for visiting fishermen.
The last time I was approached by a “Waterways Conservation Officer” (old fashioned ‘fish warden’) on the stream, probably about 10 years ago, he had to check my license first before anything else. He never did say why he wanted to talk with me, but once he verified that I was “legal,” that was the end of it. Sort of baffling, in a way. But the point is that regardless, the license check is the primary concern initially for almost all fishing violations. So, had I not renewed my annual license under a birthday renewal program, it would have been obvious. Bingo – monetary fine! And why not make it a big enough fine, not a slap on the wrist, that no one in their right mind would want to be caught with an out-of-date license. I should think that this would go a long way toward ensuring that every fisherman get their license on time.
Now for the 64 dollar question. Would year ‘round fishing boost license sales, would it encourage more young people to take up the sport. Honestly, I don’t know. It might in that the fishing message could be delivered throughout the year. It might enhance the prestige of the Fish Commission and enable it to seek funding like any other state agency, rather than be pigeon-holed as a “once a year” phenomenon. It might benefit outfitters, guides and others engaged in delivering fishing services. It might have a lot of as yet unknown positive consequences.
But mostly, it might make fishing as much a part of our everyday life as anything else. In which case, there would be many personal “opening days,” marked down and remembered by the fisherman. Is that bad?
Special
Fish Commission Web Site
Page, “Helping Stock Trout”
