PA isn't a small state & the trout are a draw for those who live in less desirable trout-fishing locations. So the population of PA swells on the first day of trout to some extent. When you add these folks to the number of resident anglers who go out on the first day, you get quite a crowd at every trout stream in the state.
The trout opener is also a tradition each angler celebrates in their own way. Some have to be in the same spot every year waiting for the clock to come around to the opening of the season, the same as they have always done for as long as they can remember. Some anglers must go fishing wit the same group of people. Some have a tradition of camping out along the stream the night before. There are as many rituals & traditions as there are anglers, I think. For many, these traditions are serious business & not to be messed with.
At this time of the year, it's a common question to ask someone "so, where you going the first day?" This question always gets an honest answer. That's because the trout opener in PA is kind of seen as a way of starting with a clean slate. All things being equal, everyone is starting from the same point. There haven't been any secret discoveries yet about what the trout are taking, or maybe where the state stocked them more heavily, etc.
The trout opener here (always a Saturday) is big business, too. Equipment, tackle, & licenses are sold. Food & drink are bought. The list goes on & on. When trying to explain how popular the opener is in PA to folks who have never witnessed it, I say imagine a state-wide tailgating party - one that stretches to every corner of the state & all points in between. It's bigger than Memorial Day, The 4th of July, the Superbowl or a Steelers play-off game all combined. In other words, if you haven't seen it, you can't imagine it.
So where do I go on opening day? I sleep in & dream of trout, then mill about the rod shop most of the day. Maybe, if its really nice out, I'll go out in the evening. Not to catch a trout - those fish have been pretty worked over by then. No, I'll go just to wet a line & say "hi" to some friends & hear how they did. Hey, everybody has their opening day traditions. Avoiding the crowd is mine.