Another trout season is now fully off and running. This weekend marked the opening of trout season for the rest of the state. The early opener for trout occurred March 29 in 18 southeastern counties.

Opening days are a big part of angling tradition in Pennsylvania. Friends and families gather together to head to local streams or venture north to camps and parks. Anticipation is half the fun, and getting tackle and bait ready, planning excursions, and telling truths about the big one that got away last year are all part of it.

The big day finally arrives and we head out to battle. The first part of the battle is often finding a place to park, then there is the sometimes not-so-polite skirmish for a spot at the favorite hole. When things finally get settled down, you can get down to the actual battle with the fish.

You’ll run into a wide slice of the American character on trout streams. An old movie title kind of sums it up: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Most guys are pretty decent, and everybody is out for a good time, fresh air, and maybe a fish fry.

I really like to see kids out there. With all the other things available to youths today, it’s neat to see kids tramping along the creek and having a good, clean, muddy time. Some young people are very skilled anglers, while others haven’t had the opportunity to learn the craft. If you see someone on the stream who is having difficulty, offer them a hand and a tip or two.

Trout can be very picky at times. Some days they will only hit a particular bait or lure. Often, presentation is the key.

The bait must be presented in a natural drift. Part of the learning curve of catching trout is understanding current and how trout use current. As with other types of fishing, time on the water and paying attention to what is going on will help you become a better angler. Some of the better trouters I know have settled into one or two styles of fishing. For instance, guys who use waxworms (or redworms, minnows, etc.) all the time have learned how trout generally react and feed on the bait they are using.

There are also some accepted generalities when it comes to the different species of trout. Rainbows like salmon eggs. You can catch rainbows on virtually any other type of bait or lure, but put a good egg fisherman on a stream that is well-stocked with ’bows, and he or she will clean house.

Brown trout also will eat anything, but minnows are particularly tasty to them, and after a rain they love nightcrawlers.

Brookies are the rock bass of cold water. Redworms and minnows shine for them, and they have a kill-kill attitude. You just gotta love ’em.

Then there are the goldens, formerly called palaminos. They can sometimes be very difficult to catch. Sometimes you can infuriate them into striking by continuously casting to them. Waxworms are often their downfall, and flashy spinners often work also.

Trout season is here. Before you know it, spring gobbler season will be upon us.

-- Ken Maurer, Herndon, is an avid outdoorsman and a regular contributor to the Outdoors section. Email comments to kenrose@tds.net