I am visiting Cape Cod, and there are a lot of beautiful freshwater ponds 
.
Does anyone have any recommendations for fishing guides here?
Thanks,
George H.
I don’t know anyone who guides on the freshwater ponds of the Cape. There are lots of people who fish it and you might want to ask for some assistance or search the archives at www.flyfishsaltwaters.com That board is mostly Eastern MA, Cape Cod related and you might get some pointers there.
Where on the Cape are you headed, and when? I can’t help but ask, why when you are minutes away from world class striper fishing are you looking towards fresh water. There are nice troupt in the ponds and if that’s your target fish you can suceed with some luck.
It is worth looking into fishing the salt as well.
If equipment is your concern, there are lots of schoolie sized stripers that are perfect fun for 5~7 wt. rods. Use a 10 lb. test leader which will work for most fish but allow you to break off if you get into something that you feel is too big for you to handle with your rod.
If you are intimidated by the salt, then don’t be there is nothing magic there that should prevent you. You don’t need to be able to cast any further with a saltwater rod than a freshwater one. Lots of fish hang out at your feet right where the waves break on shore.
If you just want to fish the ponds… I’ll shut up and go away! 
jed
As far as I know there is no one who guides fresh water on the Cape.
A fishing partner who spent many summers working in Proviencetown took a lot of ridicule because he only fished the sweet. He’s still known as the Pickerel King :shock: there.
As you must know there are hundreds of fresh water ponds in the area
Trout fishing in ponds is popular in season, but black bass really don’t see all that much pressure.
Some of the best freshwater fishing, trout , bass or salmon is in the ponds in Nickerson State Park.
The folks here http://www.reel-time.com/ might have some better intell, but then again you might just do just as well doing your own recon.
On the Cape, the salt rules
Thanks for the information!
My rod is a 6 weight, and I didn’t realize stripers (provided they aren’t too big) were O.K. with that weight rod.
I’m staying at a place on the beach in Brewster, bay side of the Cape. Any suggestions about beaches to try in the surf with that rod?
Thanks again,
George H.
Head over to the Chatham side, and you should be able to find some good places. There is a local shop out that way called Fishing the Cape, which specializes in salt fly fishing, and they can give you some local advice on what is hitting and where. I think they are at Exit 11, just a little south of the midcape highway. They are online if you search it. Good luck and enjoy it. If you want freshwater ponds, the Nickerson State Park fishing is great, but the ponds can be very active with summer campers. There are plenty of smaller ponds that will work also…365 on the Cape alone. Try the MA division of fish and wildlife website for ideas.
If you’re on the bay side in Brewster, you’re already on the famous Brewster flats, and the bay side is still fishing well this time of year. The water is cool and sand eel numbers are way up
The Paines Creek area in the western part of town is probably the most popular with fly fishermen, but but anywhere on the flats where there’s bottom structure such as gullies and channels is a good spot to target cruising stripers.
The tides on Brewster flats are dangerous and there can be fog at any time
The drop off at low tide is as much 3/4 of a mile out, so carry a compass and take readings as you work your way out. Those same gullies that you fished on the dropping tide will have water that might be too deep to wade on the way back.
Once you notice that the tide has turned, start to work your way back, don’t wait
Sight fishing is best done with a high sun and calm conditions. The temptation is to wade deep . Try to wade no deeper than knee level, and only cast to sighted fish.
If conditions are not ideal, blind casting to deeper areas, like those channels or the drop off will work
Like I said, there’s a good population of sand eels this year and that’s what the stripers are looking for.
Flies that are long and skinny and stay near the bottom will work best.
A Clouser minnow style fly of 4 to 6" with smallish eyes would work great, but anything skinny that sinks quick will do.
A crab fly may be important too.
EDIT>>>> I just read a report on an other board. It seems that are lots of small sand eels about now too
1 1/2 to 2"<<<
There’s a lot of stuff written on the web about northeast flats fishing and some of the best are in the FAOL archives
here’s one to get you started
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/feature … art59.html
Also, don’t hesitate fishing a high tide at night right off the beach. If there’s a creek with eel grass, all the better
Silversides spawn in the grasses on full moon nights.
Right place, right time…you’ll never forget it :shock:
Here’s another shop that might be closer to where you are staying
http://www.goose.com/
These people have been very helpful to me in the past.
They rent kayaks too, and can direct you to some good spots in the Nauset Marsh area (hint, hint )