The annual opening weekend for trout season has been a traditional kickoff weekend for the spring season.

Easter holidays and trout fishing have been trading weekends in these parts for decades, and I've observed the ties between the two for many years in the lunches anglers bring to trout streams.

Leftover ham, hard-boiled eggs and Easter candies have found their way into many of our meals along the streams and in the camps.

One of my favorite menu items to help ward off the chill is to make a batch of bean soup or split pea soup with the ham leftovers.

Any outdoors person knows that bean soup has been a camp staple for many decades. In fact, camp might be one of the few places you can eat bean soup and a couple of pickled eggs left over from the holiday egg coloring festivities with any civility.

Your culinary efforts with leftovers will be well appreciated by your buddies on the opening weekend of trout season — even if the fishing is slow.

The trout season in Butler County opened Feb. 14 with the new improved versions of stocked trout.

The bigger streams, such as Slippery Rock Creek and Thorn Creek, will have the traditional rainbow trout and brown trout, while the smaller creeks will be holding brook and brown trout.

Fish and Boat Commission fisheries biologists determine which type of trout are best suited for area waters and stock them accordingly.

The Butler County stocking crew worked in some adverse weather conditions to get the trout out to the anglers after high water delayed stocking.

Unfortunately, the weather likely will dampen the outlook for many area anglers, but in-season stocking and improving weather should bode well for later treks.

In the case of rainy weather, you may encounter muddy or higher water levels, especially on the smaller streams. I've found that your best options could be to fish lakes, such as Harbor Acres in Gamelands 95 or at Glade Run Lake in Butler County.

Other options could be to head west to either Lower Hereford Manor Lake or north to Justus Lake, near Franklin.

In any case, if you decide to tough it out and wade for trout remember these wading safety tips:

• Never fish alone. It's best to have a buddy around in an emergency.

• Wear a life jacket, especially the vest type in deeper creeks or rivers.

• Use a Staff to check out the bottom, face upstream when fording and lean on your staff.

• If you lose your balance while wearing waders or hip boots, immediately bend your knees. This will trap air and help you float.

• Don't panic if the water gets higher than your waist. You should expect to go swimming. Stay on your back with your feet downstream and your knees bent. Work your way slowly to the shore. Your life jacket will keep you afloat.

• Spring water is cold water. Get out of the wet clothes immediately and put on the dry, warm clothing that you so thoughtfully packed.

• One last thing go back to camp or get your thermos and celebrate with the steaming bowl of soup that marks the end of winter and the start of spring!

Jay E. Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.