Low water = full stringers

[Billfish715]

With the water levels being low and clear for this time of the year, opening day should be very productive (but not for everyone) if we don't get any appreciable rain. It means that those guys who get to the "holes" early, especially on the small streams, will catch; while those guys who are a few yards away, most likely will not! This is especially true for those streams that get stocked next week. Unless the volunteers spread them out, most of the fish will still be by the bridges and in the holes. There will be fish left over following the opening, but my guess is that there will be many full stringers by early morning on the opening. Whatever fish are left will finally be pushed around by the splashing and thrashing of guys who always fall in after doing the slippery rock two-step or the muddy slope mashed potatoes, or the trip and stumble polka.

Enjoy the show and try not to laugh too hard; and try to be polite when you start to notice that you're being mugged for your spot.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Billfish715

With the water levels being low and clear for this time of the year, opening day should be very productive (but not for everyone) if we don't get any appreciable rain. It means that those guys who get to the "holes" early, especially on the small streams, will catch; while those guys who are a few yards away, most likely will not! This is especially true for those streams that get stocked next week. Unless the volunteers spread them out, most of the fish will still be by the bridges and in the holes. There will be fish left over following the opening, but my guess is that there will be many full stringers by early morning on the opening. Whatever fish are left will finally be pushed around by the splashing and thrashing of guys who always fall in after doing the slippery rock two-step or the muddy slope mashed potatoes, or the trip and stumble polka.

Enjoy the show and try not to laugh too hard; and try to be polite when you start to notice that you're being mugged for your spot.

A wading staff ends the dance show.

Serious Trout fishing and opening day are two different things

I'm just the rockstar's groupy anyway

[Michael82929]

Streams are dead low right now....

Thats a good thing in my opinion, let these fish hole up, and when and if some rains comes, they will spread out better as opposed to heavy flowing rivers and they just take off.

Im not a fan of shutting down the stream for three weeks.

Week before the season - dump the fish in the stream. They probably dont have enough manpower or equipment to undertake that

Week prior to that - dump the fish in the lakes.

[Lard Almighty]

Just took a look at the extended forecast, and there does not appear to be any appreciable rainfall between now and Opening Day. The low water may be good for the start of the season, but I worry about how it will affect fishing throughout the year. I never did very well on rivers in late spring and summer when they were super low. I hope we have a wet spring to make up for it.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Waters are super low, not really liking it! My opinion is we are going to have one of the worse drought years ever!!! The season must go on!!! On one good note, I just got my new St Croix Tournament Walleye rod, AWESOME!!! IM AMPED UP LIKE NEVER BEFORE!!! TIGHT LINES!!!

[lunkertaker]

Hey, I like super low water levels as the fish are concentrated!

That said...I don't do a lot of trout fishing so not sure the implications on local streams

In Tampa where my Dad lives, the small ponds get concentrated in early summer, due to drought. and I have personally landed many 10+ lbs bass consistently.

In NJ, I love when Spruce Run is WAY, WAY, and WAY down and have had many of my best days ever when the fish are concentrated on a larger body of water for SM, LM Bass, pike, etc

[Thinman]

here's one of my trout spots in north jersey...normally that stick is showing 2.5 to 4.5 feet and during spring floods it can be over the top.

[shrimpman steve]

the po is low as well.

pray for rain!