Cape Cod Fishing Report - March 31, 2016

One of our favorite spring rituals here at the OTW office is closing up a little early on a Friday afternoon after checking the Massachusetts Trout Stocking Schedule, and heading to a nearby pond.

Last Friday, the crew did just that, taking advantage of last week’s dose of rainbows and brookies stocked in Cape Cod ponds. Judging by the pictures texted to me while I was in Philadelphia visiting family for Easter, the fishing was great. The guys loaded up on brookies to 15 inches and rainbows to 14 inches by casting Thomas Buoyant spoons, 1/8-ounce Kastmasters, and Roostertail spinners. Fortunately for me, the stocking trucks made yet another round this week, replenishing the fish my colleagues kept, and peppering in a few retired broodstock fish as well.

April is a transition month here on Cape Cod. In a couple weeks, there will be talk of tautog, and before the Calendar flips to May, I’m willing to bet we’ll see our first migratory stripers. But for now, we’ll have to be content with the freshwater fishing—which is red hot.

The bass are getting more active reported AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods. He’d heard of an 8-pounder taken in the past week. Large swimbaits have been the ticket to these monster bass, and AJ said the fishermen devoted to throwing these big baits regularly go days without a bite—but when the bites come, they are almost always from memorable fish.

AJ said the herring are running in Middleboro and Wareham, but he’s heard no news of them in the Cape Cod Canal herring run.

Trout action is going strong AJ reported. He suggested live shiners and PowerBait for fishermen looking to tangle with trout this weekend.

Jeff at Forestdale Bait and Tackle said PowerBait remains the bait of choice for trout anglers, but as the fish become acclimated to their new homes, they will be less likely to bite PowerBait and more likely to go for natural baits like worms or shiners. Jeff also said that the recent stockings of brown and brook trout—neither of which are as likely to strike PowerBait as rainbows—will make lures and live baits a good choice.

Pimlico and Spectacle have been some of the most productive ponds this week reported Jeff. Peter’s, as always, is another good choice.

For bass, Jeff recommended shallower, warmer ponds like Santuit and Shawme, yet the biggest bass he’d heard of this week, a 6-pounder, came from Spectacle Pond on a live shiner.

Things were a little quieter mid-Cape where Bill at Sports Port said the rain and wind this week kept many anglers from hitting the water.

Fishing Forecast for Cape Cod

The wind and rain isn’t going anywhere this weekend, with gusty conditions Friday and rain Saturday and Sunday. But this shouldn’t keep you from wetting a line. Fishing on the leeside of the pond will be manageable even in Friday’s gusts, and a good raincoat will keep you casting during Saturday’s showers.

It’s tough to pass up the trout fishing, especially with rumors of brown trout being stocked this week. If you have bass on the brain, however, head to smaller, shallower ponds where the largemouths and more likely to be active.