A thin layer of fog hovering above the water, below-freezing temperatures and thousands of anglers marked the opening of trout season at Montauk State Park last Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Ned Wicks, 77, a retired high school principal from Brentwood, fired the gun at 6:30 a.m. to signal the official beginning of trout season.
Just a couple hundred short of their expected 2,000 anglers, Montauk sold a total of 1,813 fishing tags on opening day. In fact, 151 of those were kid’s tags. The state park saw a small decline from the previous year when a total of 2,041 tags were sold on opening day. The chilly, 28-degree temperature may have had something to do with this year’s outcome. While short a couple hundred anglers, Montauk witnessed a total of 39 lunkers being caught out of the 50-60 lunkers that were stocked (lunkers being fish over three pounds).
While I could not personally be there for the opening day festivities, my father braved the cold and woke up early enough to make it before the gun was fired. With fishing being one of his favorite activities, I don’t think he has ever missed the opening of trout season at Montauk in the past 10 years. After attending the opening of trout season at Montauk with my dad and brother last year, I can say with experience that those few minutes before and after the ceremonial firing of the gun are the most intense and energetic moments of the season.
Trout fishing officially begins March 1 and continues through October 31. For those interested in visiting Montauk State Park and casting a line of their own, Montauk offers several special fishing activities throughout the season including:
· Men’s Trout Fishing Tournament- Saturday, March 19
· Ladies Trout Fishing Tournament- Saturday, March 26
· Spring Kid’s Free Fishing Day- Saturday, May 7
· Senior Citizen’s Trout Fishing Tournament- Thursday, May 12
· Free Fishing Days- Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12
· Summer’s End Children’s Free Fishing Day- Saturday, August 6
· Kid’s Trout Tournament- Saturday, August 13
· Missouri Trout Fisherman’s Association Tournament- Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11
· Disabled Anglers Fishing Event- September 24
· 48th Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby- Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2
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