Cape Cod Fishing Report for 2-5-2015

Another week, another looming snowstorm for Cape Cod. The issue Cape anglers have been facing hasn’t been lack of ice, it’s been lack of access to the ice-covered ponds thanks to mounds of snow and uncleared parking areas. Nevertheless, a few anglers are finding their way onto the ice, and are catching some fish in the process.

Down cape, pond access is a little easier according to Dan at Goose Hummock in Orleans.  Dan hit the ice at small pond early this week and, among a 30-fish mix of pickerel, perch and bass, caught a 6-plus-pound bucketmouth. Dan said most small ponds are locked up thanks to the recent bitter-cold temperatures. Larger ponds, like Cliff, still have open water in the middle, but there is enough ice along the edges to keep fishermen from casting into open water.

The same can likely be said for Peters. Kyle at Falmouth Bait and Tackle heard rumors that Peters Pond was completely iced over, but he had yet to see if for himself. Kyle has been doing some ice-fishing himself and has been catching a number of big perch, some more than a pound. Mixing in with the perch have been some small bass, but pickerel have been mysteriously absent on Kyle’s recent hardwater hunts.

Just off Cape, AJ at Red Top reports not many fishermen are getting out on account of the weather and the condition of the pond access. Plus, AJ said, with as much as two feet of snow on some of the small pond ice, some anglers aren’t willing to risk it on the ice—better safe than sorry. Some of the larger ponds that aren’t as protected by trees have had the snow blown off the ice.

Tip-ups with live shiners are accounting for most of the action, but fishermen are having some success with panfish by drilling multiple holes and dropping down small jigs.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Ice-fishing or bust for Cape Cod fishermen this weekend. The lower Cape ponds have good ice and less snow at the access than some of the upper Cape ponds. The ice should be in good shape, and fishermen reporting finding as much as 8 inches of ice on some ponds. As always, put safety first when hitting the ice.