The opening of trout season will bring hordes of anglers into the region, and every campground on every lake will be packed. It can often be a real circus at the boat launches. Remember to be patient and even help the less experienced to move things along. I know it’s frustrating to be sitting in line while you watch a someone load their boat in the middle of the launch, holding up traffic, and just think of what you learned when you first started boating. It’s important to know the rules about boating, particularly on safety issues. Life jackets must be worn by children 12 years of age and under, and life jackets must be readily accessible in your boat for all of those on board, too. I know that trout are the focus of everyone’s attention right now, but with warmer temperatures the prospects for good bass fishing improve daily. There was a bass tournament on Banks Lake recently, and for 126 boats there were 442 bass boated. The big fish weighed almost 5 pounds, and it was a smallmouth. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass will soon turn hot on Banks Lake, Potholes Reservoir and other small lakes in our region.