Opening of trout fishing. Everything you need to know!

There are two important times during the year for the trout fisherman. The first is the infamous "opening" while the second is known as the "closing". The terms are very common in fishing jargon but, for those who don't know, opening means the beginning of trout fishing while closing usually indicates the last day of salmonid fishing.

Trout fishing in running waters such as rivers and streams, in fact, is not open all year round: the national regulation, with some exceptions at provincial level, provides for a mandatory period of closure, which has the aim of preserving the reproduction of fish . A separate discussion however for fishing in stagnant waters, which however we will not discuss in this article.

Basic rules for opening trout fishing: when should you fish?

The opening is generally set for the last Sunday of February. However, there are some areas of Italy where there are some exemptions, which allow opening in different periods. In Trentino, for example, trout fishing in the Adige river opens in some sections as early as January 1st, while in the remaining sections and in the main streams fishing is allowed from the first Sunday in February, which this year is February 3rd, or from the next one.

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In Basilicata, to cite another case, trout fishing also opens on February 3rd. But in other provinces and regions of Italy the opening is set for February 24, 2019. Before tackling the streams or rivers, it is therefore necessary to make sure that the regulation has not undergone changes; therefore a phone call to the fishermen's association or to the provincial hunting and fishing office is strongly recommended. If you were caught fishing during the ban period, there would be a real risk of a financial penalty and even a complaint for poaching. Be careful!

Pay attention to the regulations for no-kill zones or free zones

In the handbook of things to know for the opening of trout fishing there is space for another informative activity. From year to year, the associations that manage the various waterways could make changes in the regulations, establishing zero take zones (fish cannot be retained - they are called "no kill" zones), regulated take zones with a catch book, free zones without catch booklet.

Before venturing out, find out from the province or association what documents are needed in addition to the type B license, or whether just having one is enough to fish freely. And, if it is mandatory to pay a fee for the catch booklet or annual permit, make the payment quickly, so as to be ready for the long-awaited opening. It may seem like banal advice but it is not uncommon to encounter disoriented or improvised fishermen on the fateful day: they constitute a problem not only for the fishermen in good standing but also for the police, who necessarily have to carry out harsh reports by intensifying checks.

How do you fish during the opening?

February is one of the coldest months of the year. Even in the case of miraculously spring temperatures, the water is always cold because it comes from sources that are certainly covered in snow. Wild trout, and even seeded trout, will have behavior that is definitely influenced by water conditions. Let's not expect hyperactive fish, with darting, jumping out of the water and lightning-fast starts as usually happens in summer.

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In winter, during the opening, the trout usually hide among the stones and remain still, with an apathetic attitude due to their slowed metabolism. Of course, they still attack the bait, but you need to be patient and tempt them slowly, without overdoing it as you might do in spring or summer. Finally, let's not forget that, always on the opening days, it could be very cold, with snowfall occurring or just ending. The stream, therefore, should be explored during drops in pressure, i.e. moments in which the trout show greater appetite and aggression.

Tips for opening trout fishing: by touch with the remote control

The main opening technique is touch fishing with the teleadjustable rod, to be carried out with natural bait such as mealworms and earthworms. To practice it you need to equip yourself with a telescopic rod of at least 5 metres, with 2 or more bushings, which allows you to fish at multiple lengths, even in narrow environments. There are mainly two lines for touch fishing (excluding other specific variants): buckshot or shot crown. The buckshot is nothing more than an 8/15 gram lead that slides on the main line, onto which a swivel and a terminal of maximum 20/30 centimeters are inserted with a 6/8 hook specific for trout in streams.

Fishing by touch, we will explore all the holes where the trout can reside. We will also move along currents, scrapes, even with accentuated slopes, probing the points where there could be fish, carrying out oscillating, slow and constant movements. As for bait, natural ones have an excellent yield during the opening but do not allow you to practice no-kill: usually the trout swallows the hook deeply, forcing the fisherman to kill the fish or, at most, to release it by cutting the terminal.

Tips for opening trout fishing: we fish spinning

Spinning is the second recommended technique for opening but with some recommendations. Spinning fishing is possible, there is no ban. However, being a casting and retrieving technique, spinning requires a certain aggressiveness from the trout. Salmonids, especially at the opening, are slow, with half their metabolism and do not show much appetite. So no limitations in spinning fishing, but do it with "engines at minimum" i.e. small baits and slow retrieves. The most suitable baits for opening are rotating spoons and jig-heads with silicone worms that imitate earthworms, preferably "scented".

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Leaving aside the rotating spoons (the bee-colored and red/black variants are the most suitable), let's deal in detail with the jig-heads and silicone worms. There are some specific ones for trout fishing in streams, also called "seated heads". They have weights of 1 to 2 grams, with a lead head included in the body of the hook, before the eye. Silicone worms that simulate an earthworm must be baited on them, preferably contained in bottles containing a flavoring liquid.

That's all. Now all that remains is to prepare the equipment, find out about the regulations and... happy opening to everyone!