August 5, 2024

For the shore bound angler on the Cape Cod Canal, one alternative to summer’s annual dog-day fishing doldrums is fluke fishing.Given the right set of conditions, fluke fishing from shore can be an enjoyable and productive fair-weather summertime activity.Tackle for Fluke Fishingthe Cape Cod CanalWhen fluke fishing from the shoreline ...

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Fluke Fishing in the Cape Cod Canal
October 18, 2023

This post was originally published in November of 2015 Kettle ponds are one of the great natural treasures of Cape Cod. With so many cold, clear, pristine habitats—all within a reasonable travel distance from each other—quality trout fishing possibilities are plentiful on the Cape. Among the lakes and ponds that ...

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Top 4 Trout Fishing Destinations on Cape Cod
November 24, 2021

This post was originally published in November of 2015.John D. Silva - MFCC memberI’m always surprised by the number of people who believe that the annual trout fishing season runs for only five or six months a year.  I’m often asked if I’m “anxious” to get back out on the ...

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Top 4 Techniques for Cape Cod Trout
July 3, 2020

If you’re idea of fluke fishing is the embodiment of playing tug-o-war with a living, angry manhole cover, then you may find that you have to go deep to find those big-shouldered bruisers.Casual anglers are often bunched up on the flats competing for their share of “just–legal” shallow-water adolescents.For those ...

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Going Deep for Monster Fluke on Cape Cod
May 9, 2019

John D. Silva The arrival of Mother’s Day each year brings about a challenging set of circumstances for the devoted outdoorsman. Mother’s Day traditionally falls on the second Sunday in May, an otherwise valuable, carefree day of outdoor recreation.  With hungry, all-to-willing trout rising in the streams, actively feeding largemouth ...

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Fishing on Mother’s Day?
April 4, 2018

John D. Silva It was the third Sunday in April (several years ago) and the weather was warm and pleasant. I arrived at the usual spot near the usual gate in Sterling, Massachusetts for my annual rendezvous with friend and colleague Ron Powers.But the timing was far from usual. After ...

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Get Ready For Wachusett Reservoir Opening Day
May 17, 2016

John D. Silva We transited out of the marina and began heading east. The sun had already crested the horizon on this brisk spring morning.For mid-May the conditions were pristine. The eventual target would be migrating striped bass, but first we had to secure live bait. As salty veterans know, mid-May ...

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Fifteen Bass To 37 Inches
August 21, 2015

​This is part #2 of a two part series on bait fishing at the Cape Cod Canal. Click here to read part #1. Once you’ve identified a productive area to concentrate on, you must then provide the proper presentation to have success. Don’t underestimate how important this is. You must position ...

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Bait Fishing at the Cape Cod Canal | Part #2
August 19, 2015

At the risk of sounding like an old-timer…ahem, years ago, the dominant fishing method among rock-hopping Canal rats was bait fishing.Times change and with them came so many modern and effective ways to catch striped bass using artificial lures – soft plastic baits, jigs, surface & swimming plugs.Nowadays most canal ...

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Bait Fishing at the Cape Cod Canal | Part #1
July 24, 2015

This is part #3 of a series of posts about fluke fishing on Cape Cod. To read part #1 click here and to read part #2 click here.John D. SilvaIf you really want to go all out for a potential trophy-size manhole cover, then you have to think big (as the old axiom ...

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Cape Cod Fluke Tactics Part #3 | The Finer Details
July 22, 2015

This is part #2 of a series of fluke fishing on Cape Cod.To read part #1 about locations click here and to read part #3 about the finer details click here.John D. SilvaGear and tackle for deepwater fluking starts with a stout, medium or medium-light spinning or bait-casting rod. The ...

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Cape Cod Fluke Tactics Part #2 | Gear & Tackle
July 20, 2015

This is part #1 of a three part series on fluke fishing Cape Cod via boat. Make sure to also check out Part #2 Gear & Tackle as well as Part #3 The Finer DetailsJohn D. SilvaThanks in part to sound management in recent years by state fishery agencies along ...

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Cape Cod Fluke Tactics Part #1| Locations