by My Fishing Cape Cod member Anthony Besaw

Trout fishing on Cape Cod during late fall through the winter months can be a frustrating time for any angler. Expect high winds, temperature swings, rain, and snow.

Luckily, there are some warmer days with low winds, where the trout are rising. In theory, this sounds great, however the warm weather can cause trout to be extremely finicky. Primarily the trout are focused on the bug hatches on the surface, which is great for fly fishing, but not for spin gear.

Factoring in these variables, an angler must make adjustments for each outing. Recently, I found myself in this exact scenario. After going through my entire tackle box, full of jerk baits, spoons and spinners, the trout just wouldn’t bite.

I did find success when I switched to an atomic tube jig (see image below), but unfortunately, after a dozen rainbows, the tube jig hook snapped.

It was time to get creative. I knew I needed to switch to something much smaller and lighter to catch the trout’s attention and keep them on the line.

I came up with an idea – why not combine a trout magnet (1/64oz jig head), and a Powerbait worm (3/8”cm Berkley powerbait floating trout worm, pink shad).  

The combination of these two proved an instant success. The lure was the right weight - it would sink to the bottom, but at a slow speed.

The slow sink rate is key because it allows the trout to examine the bait before it reaches bottom.

While sinking, I made sure to give it a very slight jig, just enough to create worm movement to queue the trout’s interest.

The addition of the magnet allowed my cast to reach an appropriate distance as well – without the magnet, cast range can be very limited. Soon enough, trout after trout hit my combo, and it was a fulfilling day of fishing!

Fishing The Trout Magnet/Power Bait Combo - Day #2

The next day, I went back out to test my new combo again. The conditions were near perfect – low wind, warm weather, and the trout were ample. Naturally, the trout were distracted with the bug hatches, but my new combo stole the spotlight.

Every cast I was hooking onto trout - they couldn’t get enough of it. I didn’t have to switch my bait at all, and new combination definitely passed the test! 

As you can see, catching trout on the Cape can be a challenging adventure full of trial and error. But once you figure out what method works best on that given day, the experience is so rewarding. There’s such a variety of trout to be caught – rainbow, brown, tiger and brook.

Below are some tips that I have found useful for winter trout fishing:

Trout Fishing At Night

As the days grow shorter, another great option is to go trout fishing at night. You can find big browns and rainbows cruising the shallows for their next meal, hunting like many other predatory fish.

The main challenge with night fishing is visibility. With little to no light conditions, being familiar with the pond/lake you are fishing will help greatly with navigation. 

Try to scope out spots during the day so you are prepared. Another tip is to avoid using your head lamp as much as possible, so any nearby fish don’t get spooked!

Since you will not be competing with bug hatches during the evening, you will also want to switch up your tackle. The lures I have found success with for night outings are joint wake baits or jointed jerk baits. Both of these lures are to be retrieved at a very slow rate to catch the trout’s attention, similar to during the day.

Whether it’s day or night, there’s opportunity all around the Cape during the winter months for trout fishing. Remember to make adjustments as needed, stay patient, and try different spots. 

Lastly, dress appropriately, because once you find a successful spot, you’ll want to stay out as long as you can!

Tight lines

Anthony