Participation was way down this week in Cape waters despite phenomenal weather for late November. The temperature is going to dip some this weekend, with highs forecasted in the low 50s, which is still plenty warm enough to do some fishing. Here’s what the few anglers who ventured forth found:
Trout
Still the top choice on the Cape. They continue to hit well at Scargo Pond according to Roy at Riverview Bait and Tackle in Yarmouth. Bait and lures are both doing the trick. Dan at the Hook Up Bait and Tackle in Orleans said Sheeps Pond gave up a nice brace of rainbow and brook trout to a couple of his friends this week with a bonus smallmouth bass thrown in. Cliff Pond is producing some nice catches of trout as well. In the Upper Cape, Peters Pond has been the top spot, but Ashumet is giving up some fish as well.
Anybody interested in a challenge might enjoy hunting sea-run browns in Scorton Creek. The fish are stocked in the creek in the springtime and presumably move down the creek to feed in Cape Cod Bay before returning to the creek in the late fall and early winter. The fish are said to be very skittish and tough to get to bite, but their size and beautiful silvery coloration gained while toughing it out in the salt and brackish water makes them a rewarding target. Anglers may also be surprised by a holdover striper settling into the creek for the winter.
Bass
The largemouth bite has been half-way decent. Dan at the Hook Up fished a Yarmouth Pond with shiners and caught a number of them along with some big yellow perch. Afternoons, when the water is at its warmest, have seen an increase in largemouth activity. Smallmouth bass are balling up over 40 to 45 feet of water according to Roy at Riverview. He recommends dropping jigging spoons or Silver Buddy blade baits to these suspending deepwater smallies.
Saltwater
There weren’t even any rumors about saltwater fishing this week. Sheila at Canal Bait and Tackle said she hadn’t heard a thing. Jordan at Goose Hummock said more customers were interested in hunting than fishing this week.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Though they weren’t mentioned explicitly in this week’s reports, pickerel will still savagely attack a livebait or lure. These miniature pike regularly exceed 20 inches in Cape Cod ponds and put up a good fight on light or ultralight tackle. Nothing has changed much with the trout fishing. Use metals or small stickbaits or worms, shiners or PowerBait for the salmonids. If you have a boat or kayak, trying to get over some suspended smallmouths sounds like it could make for fun fishing. Use your electronics and look for marks over 40 to 45 feet of water.
A quick public service announcement, which Dan at the Hook Up was kind enough to remind me about, effective Jaunary 1st, it will be illegal to use lead weights of less than 1-ounce in Massachusetts state waters. This law is designed to protect the health of diving birds, which will ingest the smaller weights and have complications due to lead poisoning. While it may be inconvenient, it’s going to be a fact. Look for an upcoming blog post on lead alternatives.
Well, how do you explain my catching a Striper just before dawn at Scorton Creek in Sandwich, MA. Not very big, but he weighed in at 30 lbs. I caught it on a Rebel Jointed Minnow from the shore at the on a turning tide. What do you say to that On The Water?
I say “congrats.” That’s a great fish at any time of the year.