Do you feel having lakes open year round, diminishes or in anyway hurts the traditional trout opening day turnout ?

I would be very interested in hearing everyones opinion on this subject after you vote.

I have been fishing jameson lake on the opener for the last 21 years . I didnt see a change in pressure when things changed and they opened the lakes in march or when they opened up a lot of lakes year round. Their allways seems to be a slow build up then suddenly the crowds drop off then start building again. Now they may just be moving around and going somewhere else. I have also noticed a change in the type of people fishing. You still have your main core of people they go every year and never change. We used to have a lot of younger people come over and party all night they seem to have dissapeared. Now i notice more yuppies with new motor homes and boats. You know the kind that leave their boat out in a windstorm and then have to save it in the middle of the night from sinking. Basically what I am saying is they never fished a day in their live or this is their second trip. Just my observations now that I think about it 21 years ago I was one of those you kids drinking and keeping everyone up. I still drink just to it a lot more quietly than in my youth.

I think opening day is the one day of the year that I absolutely know that I don't want to go fishing. Too many people everywhere, many of them who rarely fish and have little regard for the people fishing near them.

I think that leaving lakes open year around relieves the pressure on the lakes that have set seasons on them. Opening days seem to bring out the worst in people.Crowded boat launches, people with bad attitudes. I for one have never fished a opening day. I usually wait a few days until after the crazies are done doing thier thing.

We changed a bunch of our lakes from Opening Day to year around, much to the happiness of anglers. We still see an influx at some of these waters on Opening Day and we still plant these year round waters with fish prior to Opening Day.

We also do creel checks. Most of our closures are due to fingerling waters or park closures.

I think it depends on the individual lakes.

Like some other posters here,I'm allergic to opening day crowds and the lack
of sportsmanship,littering,and disregard for others (how about those powerbaiters
who put on 1/2 oz. and cast for the middle of the lake while the trout feed just
off their pole tips along the shore)!!!! It drives me nuts and I just wanna grab
somma them and teach em some manners.
So I always fish remote hike in waters on the opener.

I am against year around lakes that are near urban centers and thus get pounded
(and overfished) by too many fishermen. They usually suck except just after a
Dump of new trout is made, so I seldom fish em.

Year around regulations are best used for lakes that have spiney rays and
are underfished resulting in too many small fish. That's not the case in Wash.
though.

I would not let opening day deter me from fishing. It could be fun to watch all the knuckleheads.

I enjoy Opening Day - I think it depends on where you go and what your attitude is. I know what I'm going to face. I enjoy Pine lake because the crowds there have always been friendly and it is a real family event. I accept it for what it is and enjoy it for that reason. The rest of the year I'm fishing in solitude or along with anglers that know what they're doing. But one day I fish with the amatuers. It's a blast to see all the kids out catching their first fish and having a good time. Plenty of time later for them to learn that there is so much more to fishing than just catching these planted trout.
BTW, I caught a bit of the Dori Monson radio show today. He was talking about the diminishing numbers of young people that go out and fish/hunt/outdoor recreate. Kind of sad to think that people are losing their connection with the outdoors.

As a kid opening day was a magical day. I would spend countless evenings after school getting ready for the big day. The night before I was so excited I could hardly sleep. While I haven't fished opening day in years, I have nothing but fond memories. It was great to see all the people FISHING, regardless of what type of gear they used. To me opening day was/is about taking kids fishing, tradition, being with friends & family and most of all it was about fishing. When I have kids I will be out there on opening day with them.

Opening day is opening day. The one day a year when a lot of people fish. What can you do?

I will probably fish opening day... but not on a lake that's opening that day. I personally think that opening day puts more pressure on a lake than having it open year round. Last year, one lake near me had every parking spot full, with people parking out on the street. Fighting 100 people who maybe fish 3 times a year on a 25 acre lake to catch a limit of 9" boneheaded, mushy trout? I'll pass. Instead, I think I'll hit one of the year round lakes that everyone forgets about. I personally would like to see more year round lakes. Not everyone only fishes for stocked trout. Maybe I'll see if I can coax some crappies into an early bite on opening day.

On opening day you can find me on a lake that is open year around. Less people means more fun for me.

I'll leave the opening day to the people that don't get out as much as me.

Thats exactly why I head east to fish. Their is more room for fishing over their . THeir still can be some big crowds. I have been going over their long enough the resort on the north end has a permanent spot's for me and my buddy. We fish both openers April and October at jameson.

> Shopping with my Dad… buy more gear that we didn't really need

> Excitement while getting gear ready… be prepared for any weather (usually rain)

> Impossible getting to sleep… any sound and wake up thinking it was Dad coming to get me up

> WAKE UP (2:30) … about the time you fall asleep – Dad please let me sleep more…

> The smell and sound of breakfast… Mom was up cooking, Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes

> YEP it's raining…

> Meet Dad's Fishing Buddy and his son's… Drive, When are we getting there, Drive (Repeat)…

> Launch, Row, Anchor, Start Fishing – In the DARK… The sound's, other people launching and swearing

> Catch Fish???… Learn that fishing is not just putting fish in a net or the boat

A Life Spent Fishing!!! Thanks Dad!!!

Thank God for Fishing

Sorry Honey… it started when I was a very little boy…

TIGHT LINES -- OUR CHILDREN NEED IT!!!

That about sums it up. Nice job WBH.