The mercury was at 35 degrees, with a wind chill that made it feel like 19 at Grays Mill Pond in Adamsville early Saturday morning. Still, that was good enough for the brave souls who came out for the first day of fishing season.

Saturday marked the first official day of trout fishing season in Rhode Island, and Adamsville Pond, which is bisected by the Rhode Island/Massachusetts border, saw more than few hearty anglers Saturday morning.

“This is an annual tradition for us, we get together once a year to come out and do opening day,” Kevin Vendituoli said.

Much like their elders did years ago, friends have begun to pass the love of fishing down to the next generation. Westport resident Kevin McGoff brought young son, Wesley, and his daughter, Carolyn, to try their luck.

“This is a fun day; the kids like coming down,” said McGoff, who was joined by Vendituoli and two other friends, Ransom Griffin and Brandon Catalan.

They were perched up near the parking lot on the Westport side, with a large to-go order from Dunkin’ to keep them warm. While they admitted that they had not had much success, further down the pond on the Rhode Island side, another group of friends were getting bites.

“We’ve caught a couple of fish,” Craig Huyler said. Though he admitted the weather wasn't great, having come down to the Adamsville pond every year for over a decade, he wouldn't miss it, he said.

As part of the start of the annual trout season, Little Compton also held its annual trout tournament on the same day, giving anglers the chance to fish their favorite spot around town. For the third time in four years, Summer Viveiros won the under-15 division, landing a 2.15-pound trout. Axel Davis finished second, reeling in a 1.05-pound fish.

In the adult tournament, Gary DeCosta caught three fish that weighed a combined 11.17 pounds. Mike Lebeau finished in second, with his three fish weighing in at 9.44 pounds.

DeCosta acknowledged that the weather was less than ideal. Still, despite the weather, 40 people signed up for the competition. DeCosta said that while trout still bite in the cold, it does remain difficult for the fishers.

“My fingers were freezing!” DeCosta said. “ I couldn’t go much longer, I had to take breaks."

While the turnout in the children's section was smaller than previous years, largely due to the weather, there were moments of bliss amongst the young fishers, who went in a group and fished across the town.

“They formed their own little fishing club, and one of the mothers drove them from pond to pond all over the place. They fished all day,” DeCosta said.