On the years when it happens, the mid-winter thaw brings some incredible open water fishing for the anglers who take advantage of the unseasonable warmth. We’re in the midst of one right now, and while some Cape fishermen are fretting over the dust collecting on their tip-ups and augers, others are hitting the open water for some memorable mid-winter fishing.
In 2014, Andy Nabreski and I took advantage of a January thaw to dunk some shiners for bass. Live shiners will be the surest way to connect with bass and pickerel this weekend, but if you’d rather fish lures, Senkos, suspending jerkbaits, and shallow-diving crankbaits will all work in shallow ponds. In deeper waters, a curly-tail grub retrieved slowly along the bottom will be your best bet.
Trout are another good target during the mid-winter thaw. Walking and casting with spinners, spoons or stickbaits is the best way to intercept a cruising trout this time of year. Perhaps the best lures for winter trout are small hair jigs, but casting them far enough to reach the fish can be a challenge.
The Cape Cod tackle shops didn’t have much news this week besides the lack of fishable ice around the Cape. Some ponds are still skimmed over, just enough to prevent open water fishing. The larger ponds, however, are wide open.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Find some open water and fish it hard. Shiners are the ticket to small pond success, but in bigger waters you’ll be better off covering ground, casting lures for trout.