In lesson 4 of the Cape Cod Canal eCourse we are going to discuss gear and tackle for fishing at the Cape Cod Canal. We'll cover rods and reels, lures, and other odds and ends you can use to more effectively fish at "The Big Ditch".
With that said, the easiest way to quickly get rigged up for fishing at the Canal would be to visit our friends at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzard's Bay. In just one visit to Red Top you'll get all the expert advice and help you could ask for and you'll walk out of the shop fully rigged up with exactly what you need to be successful. 
Gear and Tackle | Brief Synopsis
Here's a super brief overview of recommend gear and tackle. More in-depth and etailed information can be access below.
When fishing the canal most anglers opt for a 10-11 foot rod that's capable of casting lures of up to 5 ounces. Often anglers will use rods that can cast lures of even heavier weights. You want a rod that's good "back bone" so you can turn a big fish in the strong current.
Reels should hold at least 300 yards of 50 pound braided line and have a strong drag. Leaders should be at least 50 pound but are often heavier.
There's no shortage of lures that will work. You'll want to have an assortment of topwater lures such as 2-4 ounce pencil poppers, midwater column lures such as Sebile stick shads, and 3-6 ounce jigs such as Savage Sandeels for working the bottom.
Korkers or installing Frog Toggs into your boots to help you get a better grip on the canal's slippery rocks is a smart idea. Having a Boga grip and pliers on hand can make unhooking fish safer and easier. A canal bike can be helpful for getting around but it's not required.
In-Depth Gear & Tackle Information
On My Fishing Cape Cod we often host meetups and seminars during the winter offseason. Today I'd like to give you access to 2 events that specifically pertained to fishing at the canal. If you have the time, please consider watching each in its entirety as the information shared will really help you cut the canal's notorious learning curve.
April 8th, 2019 Canal Meetup at Fishermen's View Restaurant
Back in 2019 we were fortunate to have Tony Navarro, a Boston firefighter and highly experienced canal fisherman, as well as Jeff Miller from Canal Bait & Tackle share with us their thoughts on essential gear for fishing the canal.
Watching this meetup with Tony and Jeff will give you insight into recommended lures, rods, reels, line, leaders and strategies for canal fishing.
2024 Season Kickoff Event
At our 2024 Season Kickoff Event we were fortunate to once again have Tony Navarro share with us the essential gear he's using in 2024 for fishing the canal.
The audio in this video is unfortunately not the greatest, but the information Tony shared about how he's currently fishing the canal is priceless.
Spinning Reels for the Canal
The following list of recommended spinning reels for the canal was supplied to me by AJ Coots of Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzard's Bay.
I've linked each reel to where you can view more information on Red Top's website. These are not affiliate links and I'm not getting paid any sort of commision - I've simply linked them for your convenience.
Penn Fierce IV 6000: typically around $130
The Penn Fierce IV 6000 is the perfect entry level reel for people seeking to get their feet wet in the Cape Cod Canal. With its lightweight aluminim body, the Fierce is the perfect match up for any 10-11ft surf rod. Due to its front drag system that produces 25 pound of drag, coupled with its fast retrieve rate of 41 inches, this reel is great for all aplications when fishing the Canal.
Daiwa BG 5000: typically around $150
If you are looking for gear that is for beginners, but can take the abuse of higher end gear, the Daiwa BG is what you are looking for. With 6+1 ball bearings this reel feels like any high end reel, at a more customer friendly price. With amazing drag and line capacity, this reel gives you the capability of catching any Striper that dares to hit your lure while fishing.
Daiwa Saltist MQ 14000: typically around $300
The new Saltist MQ has been the reel that takes anglers to the next level. With the Monocoque body design, Daiwa was able to redefine the strength of their reels, while also improving the reels ability to resist water. With one of the largest main gears on the market, this reel glides as you retrieve your lure with zero effort. Furthermore, the installation of Daiwa’s Air-Bail technology allows this reel to easily stay balanced on any surf rod while in action.
Penn Slammer IV 6500: typically around $300
If you are looking for a reel that will hold up to any and all kinds of abuse, the Penn Slammer is the way to go. With its full metal bodypaired up with a fully sealed drag system, this reel is built like a brick inside and out. Putting out 40 pounds of drag, the Slammer allows you to easily stop and turn those big fish when they get stuck in the current. The Slammer is also available in a high speed model for those looking for the ultimate retrieval speed when fishing.
Shimano Saragosa 14000: typically around $300
The Saragosa 14000 is truly bulletproof. The design of this reel allows it to stand up to things no reel should, and it has been put the ringer. With an IPX8 water resistant body possible through its X-Protect system, matched up with X-Shield technology, this reel can do it all. With one of the fastest retrieval rates on the market, of 53 inches, this reel can create more leverage on a fish than one would ever need while fishing the Canal.
Daiwa Certate 14000: typically around $650
Moving into the higher end class of reels, the first one you should be looking at is the Daiwa Certate. This reel has a very similar Monocoque body design to the Saltist MQ has, however it is taken to the next level with Daiwa’s patented Mag-Seal technology. This technology is created through the oil inside the reel, that consists of small bits of metal that are activiated through magnets placed inside the reel to repel any water that enters the reel. With more drag than you would ever need, this reel is a top-teir choice when it comes to making big fish stop dead in their tracks.
Shimano Twin Power 14000: typically around $650
The Twin Power is the reel that taught the Saragosa everything it knows. This reel is a lighter, more durable, and has higher technology than the Saragosa. Under the spool is where the true magic happens with this reel. Shimano’s top tier heat-sink drag allows the drag system in the reel to regulate its own temperature. The faster your drag peels off the reel, air gets sucked inside of the spool cooling down the Cross Carbon Drag, making it so the reel will never overheat. This technology makes this reel one of the top choices for Canal fisherman.
Daiwa Saltiga 14000: typically around $1,000
The Saltiga is Daiwa’s flagship model reel that has all of the high end technology Daiwa has ever produced. Unlike the Certate, the Saltiga is completely Mag-Sealed meaning every bearing inside is completely sealed, preventing saltwater from interfering with the reels performance. Built speficially for shore tuna fishing, this reel will handle Canal fishing with ease when it comes to any style of fishing. For those who are looking to have a reel that has a screaming drag, I can confidently say this reel has hands down the best sounding drag clicker on the market.
Shimano Stella 14000: typically around $1,100
Shimano’s Stella lineup has been deemed the Holy Grail of Canal fishing reels. With many options and sizes, the 14000 has been proven to be the best one with its powerful X-tough Drag system paired with Heat Sink, along with an insane 53in retrieval rate. When it comes to plugging or jigging, this reel can do it all with ease. The Stella is built tough, with its X-Rigid design inside and out it can face many angles of abuse you will encounter when fishing on the rocks of the Canal.
More on Gear
As mentioned at the start of this article, the quickest way to get rigged up with the essential gear would be to visit Red Top in Buzzard's Bay. However, if you want more info now, then we have no shortage of it here on My Fishing Cape Cod.
Members can visit the Cape Cod Canal category inside our forum where our members have posted an extraordinary amount of information about the gear and tackle they are currently using at "The Big Ditch."
Tight lines! 🎣