As was planned, Hinkle and Deegan lakes were stocked Sunday afternoon by Indian Lakes Fisheries of Elk View. Plenty of trout – golden, brown and rainbow – await anxious anglers. As the sun rises Saturday, the lakes open and the season officially begins.

If the weather cooperates, it could be a very busy place.

 

“It’s really a shot in the dark,” said Stan Kwiatkowski of Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department. “I’ve seen it snow real hard on opening day and I’ve seen it be nice and in the 50s. It could be shoulder-to-shoulder – or not. You just don’t know.”

 

Regardless of the weather, 13-year-old Nick Fiber will be among the fishermen testing the waters Saturday morning.

“He has a kayak so more than likely, he’ll be taking that with him. He’ll also have his Go-Pro,” said his grandmother, Vickie Tout. “That boy fishes non-stop. It is life to him. Winter never stopped him – rain or snow – it doesn’t matter to him.”

 

Fiber has obviously attended opening day at the lakes several times. But for Melinda Shields, it is a first-time event. The wife of the late Dale Shields, longtime director of Bridgeport Public Works, is going to give it a try – following a longtime tradition of her husband and son.

 

“I’m not much of a fisherman, but a girlfriend of mine wants me to go with her,” so I will be there,” she said. “Several years ago, Dale, Jason and all the other guys would go out there at midnight just to get their spot. They would sleep in their trucks and start fishing at the break of down. It used to be a big and exciting thing.”

 

For those who take part, there will be concessions available for purchase.

 

Beginning at 7 a.m., anglers can buy items including coffee, donuts, hot chocolate, loaded hot dogs, chips, baked goods and cold drinks will be sold by the New Horizons 4-H Club.

 

“We’ll set up at the (Deegan Lake) pavilion and at the lower (Hinkle) lake, we’ll try to find a little spot for a pop-up tent,” said Billy Wyckoff of New Horizons 4-H Club. “And we’ll try to go around the lakes quietly and take orders. We think we have enough kids to do that.”

 

The experience is a good community outreach, Wyckoff said. It’s also a welcome opportunity to raise money which will be used to send 4-H’ers to Harrison County 4-H Camp this summer.

 

Fisherman under the age of 15 do not have to purchase a permit this year as the age requirement was raised this year, Kwiatkowski said. All others must purchase a permit for $25 at the Benedum Civic Center. The permit is good through February of 2018.