On Saturday, a large group of angling enthusiasts will head to Brewer, gather on the shore of the Penobscot River, remember the way things used to be … and talk about someday.

The Penobscot Salmon Club will hold its annual “opening day” breakfast. As you probably know, there is no actual “opening day” this year. There wasn’t last year, either.

Since 1999, angling for the prized species has been banned on Maine’s rivers, including the Penobscot.

For now, those fond memories – and optimistic hopes to open up a catch-and-release fishery in the future – are all that remains of this area’s grand tradition of Atlantic salmon fishing.

On Wednesday, the Penobscot Salmon Club – a brown-and-yellow building that sits above the Bangor Salmon Pool at the end of a pine-lined drive – was deserted. Orangish-brown pine needles, windblown over the winter, rested on the club’s bowed, weather-beaten roof. The steady, low roar of the river drowned out the noises of nearby Route 9.

A solitary kayaker played in a large standing wave a few hundred yards upstream, where the water turns into rapids where old Bangor dam used to stand.

Fishermen, of course, were absent.

Someday, they may return to the Penobscot Salmon Club … to fish … instead of just to reminisce and talk about the sport as a whole.

Someday, the rod rack may overflow with the pricey wands of avid fly fishermen waiting their turns.

Someday, the Penobscot Salmon Club may be able to concentrate more on fishing and less on lobbying for the right to fish.

That day isn’t Saturday.

On Saturday, politicians and anglers will gather at the end of that pine-lined drive, share fellowship … and stories … and viewpoints.

They’ll check out the memorabilia, and they’ll eat a generous breakfast (the cost is just $5, and the feed will run 6- 9 a.m. or so, in case you’re wondering). They’ll find out if they won a raffle prize.

And they’ll talk about someday.

Someday.

The aforementioned breakfast is open to the public, and you’re all invited. I’m planning to stop by, and will likely stay late.

The reason: This year, there are two reasons to head over to the club. In addition to the breakfast, the Penobscot Fly Fishers will be holding their annual fly fishing day.

As a fledgling fly-tier who learned what little he knows from the folks of the PFF (any problems I continue to have are no fault of theirs), I can tell you the event promises to be worthwhile.

There will be classes on equipment, knots, and fly casting, and rods and reels will be available for casting.

The event, of course, will be held rain or shine.

This is Maine, after all. If we waited for Mother Nature to cooperate before we headed outdoors, we’d end up spending 10 months indoors.

The best part: The PFF fly fishing day’s events are free.

See you there.

Have you put your boat in the water yet? For that matter, have you seen any open water yet?

I’m curious, and have added this section to today’s column in hopes that it will elicit plenty of responses for publication in the near future.

If you’ve got a piece of water you consider your home territory, drop me a line and let me know how things are going … and how frustrated you are. Or, perhaps you’re relieved, because you haven’t had to answer that uncontrollable urge to troll around in circles and freeze your fanny off.

I get around quite a bit, and have seen plenty of still-frozen water out there. But I figure passing along the observations of local folks might work out better than just printing the views of a transient passer-by (me) who just happened to drive by a given lake or pond.

There are several questions I’m seeking answers to. Feel free to answer them all … or to pick and choose the ones that interest you.

Here goes: How much ice is left? (An educated guess, or the “throw-a-big-rock-test” is fine … I don’t expect you to go out and drown yourself in the interest of this column). When do you figure it’s going to melt? How much later than normal is that? What’s the latest you can remember ice out on your favorite waterway? )Or, if it’s appropriate, are you one of the lucky ones who can look out your door and see open water? Finally, what steps have you taken to get you into the proper fishing disposition … given that Mother Nature’s not cooperating?

My contact information is below; hope to hear from many of you … and I’ll pass along what I hear.

And while we’re talking about turning this column into a cooperative effort on occasion, let me put out this pitch: Any time you hear, see or do something you think readers might be interested in, please write or call. I look forward to hearing from you.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.