There was nothing normal about opening day of the 2020 trout season during the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Normal trout seasons are a yearly tradition for me, my family and friends, like a second Christmas in the spring. Not to mention it falls on or near my birthday weekend, another gift for me. We all meet at my family cabin in the Pocono Mountains (located in northeastern Pennsylvania) to celebrate the start of fishing season. The creek right below the hill the cabin sits on is stocked with trout by the PA Fishing and Game Commission. The start of trout season is a time to fish, eat and drink and hang out by the campfire in the most beautiful atmosphere possible: nothing but the sound of the creek roaring below; crisp, clean air; and beautiful, towering pine and oak trees. Great memories are always made, and the usual stresses of life are soon forgotten and lost in nature’s beauty.

This year was one of the most bizarre trout seasons of my lifetime for many reasons. For starters, there were many uncertainties going into the 2020 trout season, scheduled to open Saturday, April 18, due to concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic. No one knew if the streams would be stocked or if there would even be a trout season. First, the state canceled the early opening for southern Pennsylvania counties, which usually takes place two weeks before the Poconos area, and canceled the children-only fishing day. All trout fishing openings were scheduled to start April 18, but even I, the forever optimist, knew it could be canceled at any time.

Then, last Tuesday, as I was resetting my Google news feed for the 10th time out of sheer boredom, a random article popped up that all approved and stocked fishing waters in Pennsylvania were now open. At first I was shocked and upset because that meant there would be no tradition this year. Then I came to my senses and realized what the state was doing. In an effort to still have a trout season this year but to also avoid the usual large crowds on opening day, the state decided to randomly open the season with little to no warning. Then my emotions turned to excitement. This meant I could get out of the house and go fishing in my favorite place in the world! What an amazing break from quarantine.

I talked my fiancé (GT‘s own Kimberly Krol) into letting me head to the woods (this was not exactly easy), then packed my bags and left for the cabin early Thursday morning. Believe it or not, some of the changes as a result of COVID-19 were not all negative. I found myself on a beautiful, sunny Thursday afternoon on the side of the creek with no one in sight. The creek was flowing perfectly, and I said a quick prayer before casting my line in the water. I didn’t know what to expect because the article I read said the Fish and Game Commission would not announce when and where streams were stocked. Usually volunteers can help, but due to social distancing, all the stocking this year was done by agents of the commission only.

To my delight, I got a huge bite from a trout on my first cast. Things only got better from there. I easily caught and released five trout in less than an hour. It was amazing. I got a text from my uncle to make sure to bring him home some fish. If you are keeping the trout you catch to eat, then there is a daily limit of five. I went back to my favorite spot on the creek and caught five more trout in less than an hour to freeze for my uncle. Catching 10 trout in one day is by far the best fishing I’ve ever had.

Even though it was under horrible circumstances, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have an entire stream stocked with trout to myself. I was almost brought to tears because knowing what was going on in the rest of the world due to the virus, I was blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to fish in my favorite place in the world. As horrible as this pandemic is, it still hasn’t taken away nature’s peacefulness or beauty. It made me realize we will all get through this together and our lives will go back to normal, just like nature has throughout this pandemic.

I missed all my family and friends this year, but part of me also felt like I was there fishing not only for me but for them also. I didn’t realize how much I was hurting inside and how depressing this pandemic time had been until I got to the side of the creek. It was like all the negativity caused by COVID-19 was washed away momentarily. One thing I do know is this is a trout season I will never forget.

— Scott Inlander, contributor