Mark Irvin of Hollidaysburg nets this fat brown trout on a minnow Saturday morning while fishing on Canoe Creek. Mirror photo by John Hartsock

People fishing on area streams on the opening morning of the 2026 trout season Saturday were experiencing varying degrees of success, but all of them were in agreement about one thing — the sunny, almost summertime-like weather made for a hall of fame day.

Temperatures were approaching the 80-degree mark by late morning, providing a refreshing contrast to the rainy and frigid conditions that have often typified the weather for many previous trout openers.

“It’s beautiful out,” said Cody Dugan, 31, of Duncansville, who was fishing Blair Gap Run that weaves around Duncansville’s Memorial Park. “See how many guys are up and down this stream today — it’s packed. It definitely feels like spring — you can’t beat it.”

Dugan, who had been fishing the Duncansville stream with his son, caught over a dozen trout Saturday morning, and released all but a couple. Dugan was using meal worms and pink PowerBait worms.

Ross Talarigo, 72, of Altoona caught and released four trout, each of which he said measured about a foot long, on Saturday morning while fishing the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River in East Freedom. Talarigo, who was seen putting a new hook on the fishing line of his spinning outfit, said that he was also using pink PowerBait worms with a bubble-gum type smell, along with other types of PowerBait.

“You can’t ask for better weather,” Talarigo said. “There was a little bit of a shower very early on this morning, but that didn’t last long.”

This year’s trout season opener fell on a holiday weekend that included Easter Sunday. Talarigo said that family activities and obligations would keep him from fishing on Sunday, but he was quick to appreciate the big picture.

“I am blessed to have family to celebrate with,” Talarigo said. “I’ll be back out fishing Monday. They (the trout) will still be there then.”

Blaze Andrus, 26, a Lock Haven native who now lives in Claysburg, was having great success in a popular fishing spot off Turkey Valley Road in Canoe Creek Saturday morning. Andrus kept his daily limit of five trout, which he displayed on a stringer. A few were trophy-sized catches.

Andrus caught his fish using salmon eggs and a trout magnet.

“I used salmon eggs earlier in the morning, and started using the trout magnet around 9:30, and I limited out today,” said Andrus, who also released a couple trout. “It rained a little early this morning, but after the sun came out, it was a gorgeous morning.”

Charles Wade, 69, of Altoona, fishing in the same area with nightcrawlers, caught and released a carp but had no luck with trout by late morning on Saturday. Wade said that his grandson, fishing up the stream, had caught one small trout.

“I’ve had no luck except for the carp,” Wade said. “A guy who was here earlier caught a rainbow (trout) that measured about 16 inches. It was a nice fish. It’s a nice warm day today. I’ll probably leave for a little bit this afternoon and come back and fish some more this evening.”

Charles Hurkes lives in Canoe Creek and didn’t have far to travel to fish the stream there with members of his family on Saturday. Hurkes was among a party of six people fishing, and he said the group hadn’t fared well on Saturday morning.

But Hurkes said that he did land a 14-inch brown trout that he fooled with PowerBait.

“We haven’t done too well so far today, actually,” Hurkes admitted. “The first day is usually hit or miss, and today has been a miss.”