Kids love to catch fish in spring, and Monday, April 1, is opening day of the NYS inland trout season. Photo by Forrest Fisher

Monday, April 1, is April Fool’s Day, but it also marks the opening day of the New York state inland trout season. As a kid, this was one day that my dad would always take us fishing. I prayed it always fell on a weekday because Dad would OK taking off a school day for a family trip to fish for inland trout on the opening day of trout season. My mom would prepare a road lunch of peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches, a thermos of hot chocolate, and some cloth towels with a washrag to clean up before eating. For Dad, she added a thermos of coffee and an extra cigar to keep any early mosquitoes away while we ate.

The fishing day preparations started the day before with finding a whole can of red worms in the chicken coop manure pile. They were always there, wiggling and ready for bait all year long. Then, sorting through the meager contents of our steel tackle box to check on sinkers, split shots, bobbers and size 6 long-shank Eagle Claw bait-keeper hooks — the kind of hooks that keep the worm on the hook as the bobber glides along with the current.

Each year, we caught as many as five to 10 fish to take home for mom to prepare. Most of them were 8-10 inch hatchery-raised brown trout. Of course, we gutted, scaled and cleaned them up before Mom took over. Mom would slice up a few onions thin and several potatoes, and put those in one pan with a half-stick of butter. In another pan, the other half-stick of butter went in, and when it melted, the headless trout went in, and she covered the pan. In about 3-4 minutes, she flipped the trout over and covered them again. She also salted and peppered them, and added a dash of paprika over the top. Less than 10 minutes after it all started in the kitchen, we were called to the dinner table for the most excellent fish dinner meal. The skin just peeled off to expose the tender white meat of the cooked trout that melted in your mouth. It was so good. The potatoes and onions rounded out the deliciousness.

These days were unforgettable moments for us three kids — fishing with dad, all of us with boots, gloves, a wool watch cap, heavy jackets (it was usually freezing air temps with snow sometimes), a fishing rod, and an A&P can full of red worms.

The NYSDEC has done an excellent job of helping parents keep up with such a tradition. DEC trout stocking began in March and includes the release of almost 2 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in streams and ponds across the NYS through early June. “Stocked-Extended” streams, listed in the Inland Trout Streams Regulations section of the freshwater fishing regulations guide, will receive fish every other week for two months to enhance season-long opportunities for angler success. Many streams will also receive a seeding of larger stocked trout. Spring trout stocking lists are available on the DEC website, with the timeframe of stocking dates for the various trout streams can be found on the DEC website. The daily bag limit for inland trout is five fish, only two longer than 12 inches. The season will run from April 1 through Oct. 15, 2024. A digital version of the 2024 Fishing Regulations Guide is available for download on the DEC website, and hard copies are available wherever sporting licenses are sold. Good luck.

Last note: Lake Erie Perch anglers will be pleased to note that the boat launch docks are at Hanover.

CALENDAR

March 31: Last day for NYS coyote hunting season. Season will open again on Oct. 1, 2024.

April 1: Opening day for the NYS inland trout fishing season.

April 20: One-Day Lake Erie yellow perch derby, Southtowns Walleye Association, 716-796-5372 for info.

NOTE: Submit Calendar items to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.