With Cape Cod shut down on Tuesday and Wednesday for the blizzard, most fishermen were forced to pick up shovels and snowblowers instead of rods and augers.
On Saturday, I found some open water in Peters Pond. Ice covered about three-quarters of the pond, but the area off Quaker Meeting House Road was wide open. A strong wind was breaking up the ice, something I’d never seen in person before. There were floating chunks of ice all around the pond. I launched my kayak and trolling along the ice edge, and picked up three rainbow trout and missed a few others. The fish hit a Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow and a Rapala ScatterRap Countdown.
I’d heard that trout will cruise along the edge of the ice, but never had the chance to put that to the test before Saturday. All of the trout hit while I was trolling within 15 feet of the ice line, and trolling through open water and along the shoreline came up empty.
Word from Goose Hummock in Orleans is that fishing with shiners is producing some quality brown trout in open water. Gull Pond has been especially productive. Pickerel are also taking shiners, and fishermen have been finding them at Herring Pond.
Ice fishing could be a tricky endeavor this weekend. Andy Nabreski noted that many productive ice fishing ponds are likely snowed in. If you can get onto the ice, make sure you check the ice thickness and stability. Snow can insulate ice and cover up weak spots–although the heavy winds did blow the snow off many of the ponds. If you hit the hardwater, make sure you bring rope, ice picks and always go with a buddy.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Once you’re shoveled out, go on an open water hunt with some shiners or stickbaits. The trout seem to be biting well. Gull and Peters ponds have produced in the past week. Though the ponds of Nickerson State Park may be open, the road and parking areas are probably not. The ice could be iffy this weekend, but if you plan on trying it, be very careful.