Karen Wils photo Healthy water makes happy Earth days and happy trout habitat.

ESCANABA — Earth Day and the opening day of trout season — the last Saturday of April — go together like a good glass of wine and some tasty cheese.

Earth day (April 22) is every day in the U.P.

Yoopers are forever devoted to protecting our beautiful woodlands and waters.

Trout fishing takes place in the most pristine environments the U.P. has to offer. A clean, sparkling, cool stream is what the trout fisherman and woman is seeking on the first day of trout season.

Some secret honey hole tucked beneath the shady balsams and pines is a perfect spot to spend opening day.

So if Earth Day is all about ways to keep our environment healthy and pure, then trout fishing is one of the best ways to enjoy that environment.

Trout are finicky fish.

Mr. Brook Trout loves the backwoods wilderness streams. Cold rushing water, roots, rocks and a nice gravely bottom is where the brookie lives. Bubbling waters rich with oxygen is home to this fish.

Hiding behind the eddies and rivulets where the river water slows just a bit, is Mr. Brown Trout. He’s just waiting for a tasty stonefly or caddisfly to come by.

Mrs. Rainbow Trout is lurking between the waterfalls. The water’s spray creates mini rainbows of mist to match the iridescent pattern on her side.

The true trout fisherman or woman hopes for healthy waters for opening day. That means water that is not too high to wade in, yet water that is deep enough to give the fish freedom to run in.

In honor of Earth Day and the opening day of trout season, the wild flowers seem to start their awesome show. The trout fisherman often has to step through the wild violets to get to the river. The marsh marigolds brighten the water’s edge. With waders or hip boots the fisherman steps around them into the blue pond.

When the trillium flowers bloom through the hardwoods and hatch is on in the river. Trout and trilliums go together like opening day and Earth Day.

Earth Day was founded in 1970 by Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson. Since then the observance has spread worldwide. We are fortunate to live in the U.P. where clean air and water are almost always around us. Let’s work together to keep it that way.

Do something outdoorsy this weekend in honor of Earth Day. Plant a tree, put up a birdhouse or go trout fishing.

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Karen (Rose) Wils is a lifelong north Escanaba resident. Her folksy columns appear weekly in Lifestyles.