The second weekend in March, and there is still ice on most Cape ponds. Through this week, there has been plenty of ice fishing going on, although that could be coming to an end with above-freezing temperatures forecasted for the next 10 days.

As Kevin at Falmouth Bait and Tackle reported, late ice is often very productive. Fishing through the ice has been great around the Cape lately. Kevin had heard of three pike pulled through the ice on Wequaquet last weekend, and all by the same angler. Big pickerel were being reported through the ice by Jill at Red Top in Buzzards Bay. Big perch are also being caught. The yellow perch spawn right after ice-out, and the fish being caught now are fat with eggs. For a shot at a prehistoric perch, now is the time.

Dan at The Hook Up in Orleans hit the ice over the weekend, starting with Flax Pond in Nickerson State Park, where he iced a 4- and a 3-pound smallmouth, along with a few perch. The following day, Dan hit the ice on Herring Pond where big rainbows, 18- to 19-inchers were the catch of the day. Between ‘bows, Dan and Captain Rich Haight put some pickerel and bass on the ice. According to Dan, the ice at Flax was 8 inch, while the ice on Herring pond was between 4 and 5 inches.

The longer days have been having an effect on the ice, Dan said. Even with the below freezing temperatures, the extra daylight is thawing out some of the Cape’s ponds. Some ponds, like Cliff Pond in Nickerson State Park, Dan predicts will have enough open water to fish by the end of the weekend.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Think warm thoughts. We’re overdue for ice-out, and the bass and pickerel fishing that follows it. There may be enough ice to fish on this weekend on some small ponds, but be extra careful. The warm temperatures and extra sunlight are doing their part to rid the Cape of ice.

Daylight savings time is Sunday, which means an extra hour of daylight after work. Hopefully there’s enough open water to take advantage of that extra light.