Good weather conditions
This year, conditions are just right for a good opening day. The water, which fell abundantly over the winter, means that the river level is perfect. It hasn't rained for several days, so the water is not tainted.
The weather is spring-like and sunny. All the lights are on for a successful opening.
My selection of equipment for the 2025 opening
For this opening in a small river, I chose a Rodhouse rod, namely the Rainshadow IMMWS 62L blank. This little foil measures 1.90 m and has a power suitable for lures from 1 to 7 grams.
Easy to assemble and extremely light. Its action is perfect for using soft lures and small swimming fish. This set is very affordable, costing less than 150 euros. I've paired this rod with a size 1000 reel fitted with Rodbuilder Républic 0.6 PE braid, distributed by Rodhouse.
To make a success of this opening, I'm betting on sure values. For several years I have been turning to the Fiiish brand with its Black Minnow in sizes 70 and 90 mm, but also the Power Tail. For the areas I practice, sizes 30 and 38 mm are the most suitable
Fishing technique of the day
Traditionally, at opening time, the trout are not very active. I usually fish against the current, moving upstream from downstream.
When conditions are very favourable, I've noticed that the fish are very active in the current veins. In this particular case, I've had the best results with the Power Tail.
In calmer areas, but also deeper, I use the Black Minnow. Its Texan rig allows me to explore crowded spots without the risk of snagging.
A beautiful opening day
The opening was particularly successful. The trout were very active in the morning, enabling us to catch a total of around fifteen fish over the course of the day. A peak of activity between noon and 1pm enabled me to put another dozen on the dry.
Although the size of the catch remains modest, it's quite correct for these small Breton streams. I also had the opportunity to test Fiiish's new 2025 Power Tail 38 in fario. The results lived up to expectations.
