Opening day of trout season can see quite a variety of stream conditions. Some opening day temperatures have been downright freezing. Anglers have had to dress more like deer hunters.

Trout are lethargic and difficult to catch in cold weather. However, the last two trout openers have provided us with fantastic weather and stream conditions. Stream flows were normal to low with warm, sunny weather. Trout were quite active, especially mid-day. As a result, fish catches were fantastic.

This year, we've had cold weather leading up to what may be the high for the week on opening day. Yet, the temperature is not predicted to climb much above the mid-40s.

Anglers should expect cold water temperatures and lethargic trout. Most streams in the region will likely have temperatures in the low- to mid-40s.

Anglers on our larger streams, in particular, will have to make an effort to fish deep. Trout will be less active and less likely to move very far to grab a fly, lure or bait.

When water temperatures are this cold, usually mid-day or early afternoon provides the best fishing conditions. Water temperatures are the warmest during this period, so trout are most active.

Handle native brook trout with care and they'll be there the next time you sneak along your favorite mountain stream.

To some degree, small streams harboring brook trout will be more forgiving than the large streams. The brook trout that inhabit these streams seem to be willing to feed no matter what the conditions. However, with our lower than normal water conditions, fishermen will need to take extra caution to not spook trout, using stealthy approaches, good presentations, and wearing clothing that blends in with the surrounding environment.

This year, for the first time, Pennsylvania has two opening days of trout season. Trout season opened on March 31 for 18 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. The trout season opener for these counties will continue to be the first Saturday after March 28 in the following years.

For the rest of the state, opening day of the Pennsylvania trout season will continue to be held the first Saturday after April 11.

The Pa. Fish and Boat Commission based this decision on differences in the climate. Southeastern streams warm more quickly and provide conditions better suited for trout angling earlier in the spring.

These same streams also tend to become too warm for trout by mid-spring, earlier than the stocked trout streams in the rest of the state.

Also new for 2007, the commission has stocked larger trout. The average fish being stocked is 30% larger than in previous years. However, fewer trout will be stocked, since the agency is limited on the biomass of trout that can be produced in its hatcheries.

The word on the street (or should I say on the stream) is that there is no shortage of large trout that have been stocked this spring. Apparently, there are plenty 20 inches or larger in local trout streams.

Enjoy your day. Remember -- it takes clean water for a stream to support a trout fishery.

Don't take our local streams for granted. Many in our state are polluted to the point of being uninhabitable for trout and other coldwater species. Fortunately, we have avoided most of those problems here in northcentral Pennsylvania.