Freshwater Fishing

The most popular freshwater fish on the Cape are trout and small- and largemouth bass. Over 50 of our more than 360 ponds and lakes and a dozen streams give Cape Cod the reputation for top-notch freshwater angling. Bass, pickerel, white and yellow perch, brook, rainbow and brown trout, as well as many of the other species such as sunfish, catfish, and crappie, all grace our inland waters. Additionally, about four dozen streams and ponds are stocked with trout each year. Stocking usually takes place in March, though ice fishers have been known to land some large leftovers from the prior year.

You can often get some good tips from the local bait and tackle shack. Even a friendly "hello!" to a fellow fisher on shore will yield you some good Insiders' tips. Here's one that many take as doctrine: fish near a herring run. As one old-timer puts it, "Where there's herring, there's bass," and probably a good deal of other fish as well. Herring travel along herring runs from the ocean to lakes and ponds where they spawn, creating a fertile supply for the freshwater food chain. In early spring, the fish start hopping as the water warms up. When it reaches 60 degrees or so, trout head for the deeper, cooler water, while bass like to stay in the warmer waters of our shallow estuaries. If you're fishing for trout at this time of year you may find success with shiny lures and spinners, but live bait is often your best bet, especially for trout. Fly-fishers usually stick with dark muddlers and woolly buggers. During the summer, you have to go deeper, and many find success with bait or imitation minnows. Trout are usually caught on cloudy days and prefer clear, moving water.

Bass, on the other hand, like to hide among the weedy sections of the waterways and like to stay in the warmer waters of our shallow estuaries. They do not travel in schools, so even when the water warms by late June, you'll find them a challenge to catch. You will probably have the most luck catching bass on overcast days. Your best bet is to fish with shiners, but bass have been known to go after a variety of lures. We mentioned that muddlers and woolly buggers are popular flies for trout fishing, and they are also popular with anglers fishing for bass as well. Smallmouth bass fishing is known to be great on the Cape. The best bets for bait are minnows, nightcrawlers, or even crayfish. The best time to catch smallmouth bass tends to be early morning. They don't feed much at night. For fly-fishers, consider sinking or weighted lines for these deep fish. Other popular freshwater species include perch, panfish, pike, and catfish. Generally, these species lurk near weeds and rocks and go for live bait, such as nightcrawlers and minnows.

Remember, a license is required to fish the Cape's freshwater ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. State fishing licenses may be obtained at town halls or at certain bait and tackle shops. Typically, licenses are not required for children younger than 15. If you are a Massachusetts resident the adult fee is $27.50; for residents 15 to 17, it's $11.50. The annual fee for nonresidents is $37.50; you can buy a three-day license for $23.50.

Hamblin Pond in Marstons Mills is stocked with trout and also provides good bass and pickerel fishing. There is easy access from Mass. Rt. 149 by taking the road adjacent to the small cemetery.

Hathaway Pond in Barnstable is stocked with trout and has a maximum depth of nearly 60 feet. A boat ramp can be found on the southern shore off Phinneys Lane near the intersection of Mass. Rt. 132.

Lovells Pond in Marstons Mills is larger than 50 acres and is stocked with trout, as well as bass and pickerel. Access can be found along the southern shoreline off Newtown Road.

Shallow Pond in Barnstable lives up to its name--the maximum depth is less than 8 feet over its nearly 70 acres. This is mainly a pickerel pond. It sits between Mass. Rt. 132 and Huckins Neck Road.

Wequaquet Lake, between Centerville and West Barnstable, is a huge lake by Cape Cod standards--650 acres--though its depth rarely exceeds 25 feet. This lake is stocked with northern pike and is also home to many bass, white perch, and plenty of pickerel. Access can be found along the northern shore off Shootflying Hill Road.

Dennis Pond in Yarmouthport is a great place to fish for pickerel and bass because it is a shallow pond that averages a depth of 10 feet. Access is along the east side off Summer Street.

Long Pond in South Yarmouth is stocked with trout. You can also catch bass, white perch, and pickerel in this largely shallow pond with a maximum depth of 30 feet. There is a boat ramp on the south side of the pond north of the point where Mass. Rt. 28 and Wood Road intersect.

Fresh Pond in South Dennis is a shallow pond--about 5 feet deep--with access on its east side off Mass. Rt. 134. Pickerel can be caught here.

Scargo Lake in East Dennis achieves a maximum depth of about 50 feet over its 50-plus acres. The lake, which is stocked with trout, also has white perch and bass. Two access points can be found, one along the north side off Mass. Rt. 6A and another at the northeast corner off Scargo Hill Road.

Flax Pond in East Brewster is trout stocked. It is more than 70 feet at its deepest point, and its waters are home to bass and pickerel. Access is from the northwest off Deer Park Road within Nickerson State Park.

Long Pond on the Brewster and Harwich town line is very large, spanning nearly 750 acres. In some spots the waters exceed 50 feet in depth, with just more than 60 feet being its greatest depth. Here you'll find plenty of bass biting along with white perch and pickerel. Access is from the east off Mass. Rt. 137 and south off Long Pond Drive as well as from the north off Crowells Bog Road (east of Mass. Rt. 124).

Sheep Pond is a 150-acre Brewster pond stocked with trout. Bass and pickerel also swim in its depths, which exceed 60 feet. Access is from the southwest off Mass. Rt. 124 (take Fisherman's Landing Road.)

Seymour Pond on the Brewster/Harwich line has pickerel, bass, and white perch. It is about 180 acres in area and about 40 feet at its deepest point. It can be accessed from the east off Mass. Rt. 124.

Goose Pond in Chatham is trout stocked. Access to this 50-foot-plus pond is gained from the north off Old Queen Anne Road to Carriage Drive.

Schoolhouse Pond in Chatham is a small 20-acre pond stocked with trout. Maximum depth is about 50 feet. Access can be gained from the northwest off Old Queen Anne Road.

Baker's Pond in Orleans is trout stocked. A small pond at 28 acres, its maximum depth approaches 50 feet. Access is from the east off Bakers Pond Road.

Crystal Lake in Orleans has bass and pickerel along with stocked trout. Access points can be found along the northwest off Mass. Rt. 28 and southeast off Monument Road.

Great Pond is Eastham's largest pond at 110 acres. Bass and pickerel can be caught here. Access is off Great Pond Road.

Herring Pond of Eastham reaches a maximum depth of about 35 feet. Its 40-plus acres are trout stocked, and bass, white perch, and pickerel can also be found here. Access to the pond is from the southwest off Crosby Village Road.

Gull Pond in Wellfleet is stocked with trout, though you'll also catch bass, pickerel, and perch here. There is a boat ramp along the west side of the 100-plus-acre pond off Schoolhouse Hill Road. Maximum depth here exceeds 60 feet.

Long Pond in Wellfleet is like two ponds, the east side dropping to more than 30 feet and the west side going a bit deeper, over 50 feet. Access to this bass and pickerel pond can be found along the northwest side off Long Pond Road.

Great Pond in Truro is a small trout-stocked pond that drops to greater than 35 feet in its center. There is access at the southwest tip just off U.S. Rt. 6.

Gull Pond, just off Gull Pond Road in Truro, has been known to yield some good-size trout and bass. The Pamet River is also stocked with trout each year.

Pilgrim Lake in North Truro, on the right of U.S. Rt. 6 just before entering Provincetown, is a bit deceiving for its size. While its total area is 350 acres, its deepest waters are scarcely 6 or 7 feet. White perch and pickerel can be found here. Access is from the south off High Head Road.