By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
For decades, Joe Augustyn of Olean has been among the Cattaraugus County fishermen who make it a habit to go trout fishing on opening day — April 1.
Tuesday morning was no different. While the numbers of fishermen on the first day of trout season have dwindled over the years, at 79, Joe keeps up the tradition.
The temperature was hovering around 32 degrees on Ischua Creek at Kent Road in Hinsdale. Joe was “You’ve got to be crazy,” Joe said. He often fishes on opening day with his son, Tony, who is 56. Tony is not here today though. On many an opening day there has been snow on the ground. One year when he fished Dodge Creek on opening day fishermen were breaking the ice by throwing tires out on the ice tied to rope so they could pull them back.
“I could be sitting at home in front of the wood stove,” Joe laughed. Instead, he was standing on the bank of Ischua Creek at the Kent Road bridge. He usually walks upstream from the bridge, fishing along the way.
Joe considers himself a bionic fisherman. He’s had one knee replacement and is probably going to get the other knee done too.
Joe had a couple of brown trout that were just under a foot long. The daily limit for trout is five, with no more than two being 12 inches or longer, he said. Those trout were bound for the frying pan for supper that night.
Nearby, Ed from Limestone is casting with a Rapella lure into Ischua Creek. “It’s fun to get out on the first day of trout season,” he said.
Ed, who asked that his last name not be used, said he and his friend had “been working our way down the creek from Franklinville. This is our last stop.” Ed said he hadn’t had many bites. “I gave my best Repella to my friend. He’s catching all the fish.”
With many stream open year-round for catch and release fishing, Ed thinks it’s not as much fun anymore.
There are fewer young anglers, Ed said. “Kids these days are either on the computer or their phone.”
The state Department of Environmental Conservation plans to stock Cattaraugus County’s lakes and streams with 82,000 brook, brown and rainbow trout.
__________________________________________________
All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
