Fishing the Cape Cod Canal

[bdowning]

A slight improvement here over what it's been lately, but the fish aren't clobbering the jigs like they hopefully will be by July. The usual handful of 24-27" clones, a 33", and a line melter that got off about halfway in. All hit on a very slow retrieve. By slow I mean half the speed of I-think-I'm-going-to-lose-the-jig-any-second-now . Bring a bunch & some patience.

-bd

[Skunk Buster]

Boy am I gonna sound like a dummy..but I assume that by using a very slow retrieve you're trying to get the bait down near the bottom? I wonder if there's some way (using weedless hooks perhaps) that would prevent getting snagged. The canal is a challenge because of the huge boulders littered around the bottom, but the bass love those nooks and crannies. Are there any deep holes you know of that are sand bottomed, or should I just resign myself to losing rig after rig...and then having to reload the reel because of all the line I've lost as well?

[bdowning]

Originally posted by skunkfinder
The canal is a challenge because of the huge boulders littered around the bottom, but the bass love those nooks and crannies. Are there any deep holes you know of that are sand bottomed, or should I just resign myself to losing rig after rig...and then having to reload the reel because of all the line I've lost as well?

Unfortunately I can't answer your question easily, because no two spots are alike. I can say that it is not always necessary to find bottom with a jig; near the bottom is usually close enough and nearly anywhere in the water column can be good for schoolies & blues. As for losing stuff, what I'd do is concentrate on a couple of areas and figure out through experience how far you can push it without hanging up on every cast. It's really trial and error and experimentation.

-bd

[bb1]

Were you using the large, heavy jigs for this slooow retreve?

I left my light spinner (50lb. braid) in the truck the last few days.

I did try a slower retreve w/ a 1 1/2oz. white 9" sluggo near the end last night (ran out of 2-3oz.)...no go for me.

[bb1]

I am (also) so sick of tying stiff 40lb Floro' leader to braid line, after losing it hanging the bottom...just when your thinking things are going well.

After a while I just tie to the braid...

I may just start using a short leader w/ a swivel.



Didn't even SEE a striper in the last 3 days...I mean nights.

[jettyjockey]

without hangin up on every cast

i'll hafta try that technique some time...

the fish i've found so far on rubba have been pinned to the bottom...nothing up in the water column yet...been using 4's and 5's to reach em...

[bdowning]

Originally posted by bb1
Were you using the large, heavy jigs for this slooow retreve?

3 oz, which is usually as heavy as I go, although rarely I'll use a 4 oz Cripp Herring. The current seemed extra fast (full moon tide?) & I wasn't doing much with anything under that. I often skip the leader and tie direct. Doesn't seem to make much difference except that handling that braid can get nasty with a thrashing fish!

-bd

[BobG]

i fished the west end this morning, and did nothing at all too.
first 2 casts with big slug-gos were "bluefish-ized".
switched over to a 3oz chartruse cuda, lots of bumps, but no results.

as for jigs (cudas) 3oz is as heavy as i go these days.
when i was a kid, i'd throw 4-5oz skins all night long on my big harnell and my old squidders loaded with 45 pound dacron. i guess you're nuts when you're young.
now i fish small rips, and some lesser known shelves where i can keep my weights no more than 2oz.
bill's right about the "near bottom" thing. it's not nessesary to be right on the bottom.
i often just count down and start my retrieve depending on the weight i'm using vs the tide speed. i do this rather than trying to actually hit bottom on every cast.
remember, rubber is far more bouyant than a bucktail jig or eelskin. plus, they tend to rise slightly upon being retieved. so, i often drop-back half way into my retieve to get it back near the bottom.

[bb1]

Had to hunt all over to find bullet jig heads...found them @ the last place I looked CCC's.

I was feeling good some of the time...getting 5-6 good bumps off the bottom @ times near the Power Plant each retrieve. I also do the count down often when I want to swim the jig...and save em'.

Quickly lost two 3 oz. jigs @ pole 80 though...must be a better chunk hole (east tide?).

Good to know you use the 'cripple herring' Bill...I love the 3-4oz. in the day time......many times they have save me from getting skunked. And I hear the morning surface action is mainly stripers chasing very small bait.

I wonder how the people on the other side were doing (murders row etc.)...there is a long streach there with NO lights now.

Snapped off a 3oz. jig on a cast w/ 50lb super braid...I'm going up to 80lb. The line just broke about half way between the jig and the rod tip???

[bdowning]

Originally posted by bb1
Snapped off a 3oz. jig on a cast w/ 50lb super braid...I'm going up to 80lb. The line just broke about half way between the jig and the rod tip???

What kind of braid are you using? I use either Power Pro or Whiplash, both 50 lb min for Canal, and have rarely had any breakage problems, except in the very first batch of Whiplash. I did have breakage with Fireline, but maybe that was a fluke, no pun intended. I do find the stuff degrades over time, although more slowly than mono. I usually cut back 10 ft after each outing, and replace 100-150 feet every couple of months, rather than spending the considerable $$ to re-fill the entire spool to the backing. I splice the new 150 foot braid section to the old braid section using a back-to-back Uni-knot (10 to 15 wraps on each end) and a tiny bit of super glue or Zap a gap to smooth down the cut tag ends to the main line. The splice is quite small, strong, doesn't cause interference on spool, and will shoot through the guides with little effect on casting distance, not that you need much.

Anyway, I do all this to cut down on the line wear problem and prevent snap-offs. Also check that tip top guide every once in a while, especially if it's a cheaper ceramic or plastic. Braid WILL wear a groove in it eventually, if use it enough, and you'll have to replace the guide to avoid roughing up the line.

-bd

[bb1]

The line I used is first generation Tuf Line I have had for years, and just started to use it. Went to another o/l fishing board last night and found that its common for 50lb and lower super line to snap...for no real reason.......and this was freshwater bass fisherman!

I just started to use a Abu G. 6500 reel for jiging the canal, that I modefied w/ a 5 ball bearing (2 on level wind) kit I got from Mike @ M+D. What a smoooth casting reel now (already have ABEC #5 in the spool).
It will hold 190yd of 17lb (80lb PP)...and with the Smoothy Drag washers I think it will work out well.

Red Top will fill your reel w/ Power Pro...but will charge you MUCH more off there bulk spool, than if you buy the 300yd filler package @ there own store! Brain Dead...

I also use the Uni to Uni knot to join lines...double Uni or Polamar to terminal.......in fact there the ONLY 2 knots I know <lol>.

I hear Power Pro digs into your spool much less than Whiplash while fighting a big fish (or hanging bottom). Whiplash also tends to produce wind knots (expecially on spinners) and the finer weave actually 'grabs onto' rocks.
I want to get 80lb Power Pro...but where to buy it locally?

Bill, do you still use a leader (floro, how long, swivel?) or just tie direct...or like I do, start w/ a leader...then...<lol>.

[bdowning]

Originally posted by bb1
I hear Power Pro digs into your spool much less than Whiplash while fighting a big fish (or hanging bottom). Whiplash also tends to produce wind knots (expecially on spinners) and the finer weave actually 'grabs onto' rocks.
I want to get 80lb Power Pro...but where to buy it locally?

Bill, do you still use a leader (floro, how long, swivel?) or just tie direct...or like I do, start w/ a leader...then...<lol>.

I don't know about PP vs. WL re: digging into spool, as I've only tried Whiplash a couple of times. With PP, all I can tell you is I've landed up to mid 30 lb fish on a Baitrunner spiining reel and haven't noticed much digging in. Tangles are a problem with all the braids when using spinning gear, but I've only run into bad problems when throwing swimmers or metals which can sometimes spin and "wind up" the line. A good quality swivel helps a little bit, but generally when plugging the beach I give up and use a reel spooled with mono. If I were more willing to deal with conventional gear, I'd probably have less problems with twist when tossing plugs or metal.

M & D's has or had 65 lb PP but I don' t know about 80. PP is much more widely available this year in retail shops, so you may want to call around. PP's web site has or used to have a store where you can order anything you want direct.

I don't use a leader much on the Canal with braid, mostly out of laziness and because I tend to try many different sizes and weights of jigs while fishing. But one big fish taking the line down into the rocks could change my mind. I guess the question is how does the abrasion resistance of a 50-70 lb mono leader compare to 50-65 lb braid? Don't know the answer. I don't think braid spooks the fish in the Canal BTW, although I'd definitely use a fluoro leader if it were tunoids I was after.

-bd

[bb1]

On the surf board I visited the consensus was - Fireline for spinners, Power Pro for baitcasters, and Whiplash for conventional w/o levelwind.
The Whiplash was used only bacause Power Pro will eat into your finger on reels w/o a levelwind because of its roughness.
But because Whiplash is thinner and smoother, it digs into it self much easier.

Also, any of the super braids will snap like 12lb mono if 'something happens' with your cast. There tinsel strength is great when just pulled on, but do not take 'shock' very well. And they all have super strength when pulled on stright, but put a sharp 90 dergee angle on them (like a rocks edge)and they snap easily...not from the edge, but from the angle.

[jettyjockey]

i use 65lb whiplash on my mitchell nautil 7500 spinner and i have had zero problems with wind knots or having the braid dig into itself...

i always fish the braid attached to a small ball bearing swivel which is then attached to a 3 foot length of 40lb big game mono, then to a duolock snap...this way when i hang up the leader breaks before the braid does...

one thing to remember about braids and spinners is that not every spinner is suited for braid...

[bb1]

The first time I used super line @ the Canal was the year Fireline (30lb) came out w/ a 9" Sluggo (no weight, slack tide). That line was like one of those survival 'wire saws' on my finger, on the first (and last) cast w/o a mono leader. I should have tryed a cast before I went to the Canal.

I guess you can use Whiplash w/o a leader because it is so soft and smooth to the touch on spinning reels. I have a Daiwa SS 2600 w/ Tufline 50lb and a floro-mono leader...I think the Daiwa SS works great w/ ANY line (lays on in a cross-hatch pattern).

Jettyjocky, I guess when you get to the heavier (65lb) Whiplash wind knots and digging in are irrevelent! Can you break your 65lb off on the Canal rocks like 30lb mono?
Ive been thinking about going up to 80lb...but use a lighter 45-50lb duolock/coastlock snap (tied direct) to break first.