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 anglers cast jigs and plugs, like this pencil popper pictured above. However that was not always the case. Years ago the dominant method at the canal was bait fishing, which can still work extremely well today.
It seems as if the old tried and true bait-fishing methods many of us utilized with great success are fading from memory.
However, a discussion in the MFCC Cape Cod Canal forum revived the subject and raised a surprising number of questions about the most productive way to use bait in the Big Ditch.
Here's a few "old timers" fishing bait in the "good ole days". Bait fishing has fallen out of popularity and you don't see many anglers doing it anymore at the canal. However perhaps that will change after people read this article!
Some anglers, especially those new to the challenging tides, currents and topography of the Canal, experience less success than they’d like while using artificial lures and feel they could benefit by going back to basics.
To that end, the following is a summary of how we used to do in the, uh, not-so-old days.
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The use of bait is best done with a conventional rod and reel for overall efficient method to enhance the casting of the what ever bait you decide to use. It takes a little less effort to cast the bait into the current .
Also how you cut the bait if that is what you do is best done at an angle overall it works better in hook ups and presents the bait more naturally. Look for the eddies that are close to the rip rap and cast your bait up into the current and let it slide along with a rubber core weight as mentioned above . In some cases you will not need any weight allow the bait to slide along with the current until it get to the bottom of the whirlpools where it will stay waiting for a fish to come along If one decides to chum make sure the pieces you chum with are smaller then the ones you cut up for bait .
If you have a an old meat grinder it works even better if the bait is like soup and you use a hand spoon to throw it out with a long handled on it. Once you get to how you spread the chum out while casting simply as posted above cast into the heavy body of the slick and let is slide along in the current . You can add crushed crabs or dead left over worms or clams for chum mixed in .
Then again should you have plenty of chum fill a lobster bag and weigh it down and throw it out with a rope on in . Should you really have some chum you can fill a lobster pot with dead mackerel ,poggy.s or crush clams or crabs and prime the area for the next days fishing . Throw out the lobster trap on a wire ;not a rope into the water , you will be surprised how well that works when the fish are hard to find.
Peace and Prayers
Awesome idea with the use of a lobster pot for chum. Never would have thought of that one Carl!
Hi Carl it’s Ted Shrensel your buddy from N.j. I just read your article about chumming in the cannel. Sounds good I will try it next time I fish the big ditch. Best of the holidays to you and your family.
Sorry, I meant second picture with the two people fishing.
Yes, that’s a great example. As the current flows (west… in the photo: left to right), a rip/hole forms in the current where bass will hold. Once the rip forms up and is at it’s peak, it’s pretty easy to identify.
JD.
The striper floating that I mentioned befor, I now realize it happened right at the spot shown in the last picture of this article. As for structures, is the first picture of this article considered a structure followed by a hole?
I am not that good at identifying such rips, and structures where the fish are hiding. If you have pictures or videos that will help us get used to such places will be helpful. This morning I was at Canal Flats and I noticed that a striper that was flitting went into a swirling place and before I was able to snag him it went under the water. Thanks!
I don’t personally have any photos but I’m sure I could get some to use as examples…especially once I have a bit more time during the off season.
Lots of great structure and places in the Canal worth trying the chum and chunk technique, perhaps even that flats area you mention, if there aren’t too many other folks fishing the area.
From the looks of it the Kayak was a winner for you . Fish in the canal at night bring bug spray now on will be good fishing, lest people catch and release andre
The kayak has been great for me Andre, and good advice regarding the bug spray – definitely don’t want to forget it!
The largest Canal bass I know of (60 pounds) was taken on a pogie chunk during late October my friend Bill Baranowski.
Definitely a big fish technique. I think it would be cool to see more guys bait fishing again!
Another effective option is using live eels at night with much the same technique as above (minus the chumming of course).
JD.
That’s the only way I fished the canal.and I bet percentage wise the highest to.im going to start again.
Nice! Keep us posted with how things go Steve.
Lots of useful info in this report John! Often at the Canal we become obsessed with casting for distance, when many of the hits come 30 feet in front of us. Closer to shore is usually where you see the most rips, swirls, and pancake patterns in the water as it moves over bottom structure. Your report has definitely inspired me to trying this technique at the Canal.
Thanks Dex,
Funny… we’re going retro… back to the future all over again.
Good Luck!
JD.
I was literally doing this two days ago. Guy near me said. “That’s not enough weight for the canal son.”
Smart move Alain. As John mentions I would definitely not recommend more than a rubber core sinker when the tide is running.
However during slack tide, you can use up to 8 ounces and allow the bait to sit on the bottom, without too much trouble.
Memories. Someday I will dig out all my chunking stuff and try it again. I only know one friend who still does this. I have not even seen any one doing it anymore and I am at the canal a lot. I bet if you followed these techniques he is going to explain you would do well cause the fish have not even seen this method used anymore and are probably sick of looking at Sebiles and savages and pencils.
Excellent point FZ.
I wouldn’t mind doing it again as well, when I could get about 3 guys together and secure a productive section of canal for ourselves in a good rip.
(All the finer details regarding technique are in Part 2)
Incidentally, I still have my old, home-fashioned, long handle bait scoop I used to toss bait into the canal.
Messy job…
JD
Chum chucker.
I would really enjoy seeing you guys do this again at the Canal. It could be an interesting experiment because if you have success and people hear about it, I bet everyone will ditch the Sebiles and start chunking again!
Sounds like a good “team effort” style of fishing. Probably build some good camaraderie. Everyone fishing and chumming together, working to bring the fish in for all to benefit.