There's something special about fishing on foot on Cape Cod. To me
it has nostalgic value, not to mention a very effective, scenic, peaceful
way to spend your time fishing for Cape Cod stripers. I admit a
boat can be a big help and almost a necessity come mid to late summer but
the reward may not be as sweet. There are dozens of places to flyfish from
shore on the Cape but I will stick to the extreme Lower Cape area with which I
am familiar.
One of the great things about fishing on foot is there
is very little stress involved. You don't have to worry about filling up
your boats gas tank and finding a place to launch and park for that
matter. A cold front or high pressure system won't make you run for the
marina, instead you pull your rain jacket off your chest pack and zip up
and look forward to grayer skies and extreme surf. These are the moments a
shore bound striped bass fisherman live for.
One of the great things about fishing on foot is you have more range than
you might realize. From Wellfleet north the Cape narrows and it is just a
few minutes drive from the bay to the Atlantic side. So if you are unproductive
on one side or the water seems to warm or too cold and the fishing is slow
it's just a short time before your wading somewhere on the opposite side.
April is the kickoff for the striped bass migration to the Cape. My favorite
place to intercept these hungry roving fish is at the mouth of Wellfleet harbor
on the bay side. They get here by traveling through the canal and working up
the bay shoreline. Water temperature is still in the 50's at this time and I believe
the bass are looking for warmer water and Wellfleet harbor brings it to them. They
funnel into the back bays for a few weeks before moving out and up towards
the tip and beyond. This can be flyfishing heaven here from mid April to
the middle of May. By the middle of May the bass have filled in the back
beach or Atlantic side pretty thoroughly. Daytime fishing can be very
productive from shore at this time. By wearing polaroid glasses you can
see pod after pod of fish moving in a northern direction along the beach.
It's easy to intercept these pods with a little practice and patience.
There are numerous public beaches from Nauset to Provincetown. Getting to
these parking lots early is the key. Come June, the area directly below each
public beach parking lot fills up quickly with sunbathers, swimmers, and
surfer wannabes so take your time and walk for a spell in either direction.
You will find plenty of space and most likely won't see another fisherman
if you don't mind walking a bit. The outer Cape beach is probably the most
spectacular scenic beach on the Atlantic seaboard so good fishing or no
fishing it's still a grand experience! I use two different type of lines here. A full length
intermediate for fishing on top of the bars when the tide is either going
or coming and a fast sink shooting head for fishing the flood tide. Flies
of choice vary but I enjoy using 4-6 inch baitfish imitations made with
yak hair and a lot of flash. If not successful with those I will tie on a
tried and true 2/0 chartreuse clouser with heavy gold flash. Vary your
retrieve until you start picking up fish. A stripping basket is a must
while wade fishing to keep your flyline from sloshing around in the surf
and tangling around your legs. I personally like to work an area for a
length of time before giving up. Bass move around a lot with the tide so
you can be scoreless and believe there isn't a fish within a hundred miles
of where your fishing and then all of a sudden your catching fish on every
cast for the next two hours.
Monomoy is world renowned for site casting to striped bass, it also has a reputation for
being a zoo with too many anglers. For a change of pace the flats of
Provincetown harbor can offer some spectacular site fishing. Provincetown
is known as a commercial port and the majority of the recreational anglers
who do fish here fish with long surf rods equipped with spinning reels
with a 4-5oz bank sinker chunking bait. My flat of choice is the one off
the dike inside the harbor. The dike links the west end of town to Long
Point or the tip of Cape Cod. This flat is best fished from a boat but
wading an hour either side of low can be productive also. Bass move in
with the tide here and roam the sandy bottom in search of sandeels or
green crabs. As the tide floods and starts to drop they lay up in the
small channels and current flows that are created by water flowing through
the dike. Monster bluefish also cruise this flat and I have taken fluke
numerous times with a fly here also. You very rarely see anybody else
fishing this flat so even though there may be a dozen boats working the
edge from the tip to the Race, this flat is usually vacant and you
may have it all to yourself. If and when you get tired of fishing the
flats within the harbor all you have to do is venture over a dune to get
to Long Point. From here to Wood End is very productive water for the
walking flyfisher. My favorite time to fish this area which is ¾ of a mile
long is on the dropping tide.
Fish move in close to the feeder creeks which are formed by the flood to pick
off stray sand eels floating out into the bay. The current of the bay usually hits
these trickle flows perpendicular and it is best to fish 10-20 yards down of
where the flow meets the current. When the tide bottoms out the edge which
the wire liners jig at is only about 75 feet from the shore. An extra fast sink
head and a smooth and efficient double- haul can put your fly where the
majority of large bass come from up here using jigit eels.
Herring Cove is a popular sun bathing spot but it's also a great place to lay out
some flyline. There is a large parking lot at Herring Cove and it's free for parking
until July 1st I believe. I usually park at the northermost end
and work my way towards Hatches Harbor about 1/3 of a mile to the right.
Tide doesn't seem to matter so much here for I have picked up fish at all stages in the tide.
This is one of my favorite spots to flyfish when the sun is setting I have
witnessed spectacular sunsets here on glass smooth water while watching
humpback whales do their dance in the horizon beyond.
The National Seashore years ago bought the outside beach land from Provincetown
to Orleans. Several areas can be accessed with a 4x4 and a seasonal or
weekly permit purchased from the Seashore office. Where the National
Seashore guys will let you drive can be a problem at times due to the Pipling
Plover nests. Regardless it is still worth to purchase a seasonal ticket or a
weekly ticket if you plan on venturing over only for a few days. This can
open up miles and miles of unbroken shoreline to fish.
There are few light tackle guides in this area and that's probably a reason
for the remote feeling you get fishing in the spring or fall here.
As with the rest of the Cape, there are numerous lodging facilities just about
anywhere you look. If your a camper there are several camping areas in the
area surrounding Truro. Most are equipped with shower facilities and a small
store. Skiffs can be rented at Flyers boat yard in Provincetown for a modest fee.
Have faith in your ability and use common fishing sense and in time you will
know where and when to fish this beautiful area. Part of the fun is figuring
it out on your own.~ Jeff Smith
About Jeff:
Jeff lives in Wellfleet, MA and is a wade guide and has a
popular saltwater flyfishing website
FlyFishSaltwaters.com You will find other interesting saltwater information
there as well.
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