From the
folks at Cape Cod Outdoors. The best, area specific, outdoor site.From the
folks at Cape Cod Outdoors. The best, area specific, outdoor site. February entices us with the edge of spring and bludgeons us with
the last of winter. Here on Cape Cod, we often see bare ground this time
of year (good for the birds maybe) but then have to duck a Nor'Easter capable
of threatening a man's boat and his livelyhood and burdening our roofs with
snow.
This winter, and now this spring, gentler than most, hints at things to
come and preparations to make. This is the month to tie flies enough to
last until july, at least. Now is the time to clean and grease and store
away the duck guns for another year. Or to build or finish off that boat
or dinghy.
Too soon? Not really. Next month we'll want to make an early foray onto
fresher waters for Perch and Trout and wouldn't it be nice if the boat was
ready. So on one of these nice 48 degree days, get on down to the marine
or paint store for hardware and such to make those changes you thought of
last year. Building your own dinghy? Four weekends and some garage space
are enough to put together a little ply and glass punt that would be just
right for one person on our small ponds or to tend the mooring.
All too soon, we'll be stretching and cleaning those fly lines, making a
few practice casts in the yard and watching for a warm day to dig out the
waders. Remember to tie a few extra wooley buggers in brown and gold, the
"Cape Cod Fly" it oughta be called. And this year, tie a few big,
floating deerhair poppers for those Largemouths in the pads on hot summer
days. After the spin fishermen pass this fly still works wonders.
Have you been out lately at night? Down at the docks under the lights are
a mixed bag of Spotted Killifish, Sticklebacks and Silversides. A quick
sweep of the net and you have the basis of an interesting saltwater fishtank.
The advantage of using local species is their hardiness. Just add water
to a tank and add some clean sand and a few Killies and you are done except
for keeping them fed. A few Killies alone can survive without oxygen pumps
and filters. The rest require a bit more hospitable surroundings. Food?
Collect a few muscles and crush one every day or two for their chow. Watching
these awhile will teach you amazing things about the littoral zone of our
shoreline.
This is also a comfortable time to walk your favorite woods paths without
the hassle of ticks. Now is the time to crawl or push your way through that
thicker brush to discover what is inside or on the otherside and out of
sight.
Visibility is improved with the foliage off the understory making it possible
to note the location of songbird nests for later. Come back in the spring
with a camera and your patience intact to get some very nice pictures of
the yearly habitants of these nests. Building a little blind now in preparation
means not disturbing the birds later when you sneak in from the back.
Spring tides also let us adventure where "no man has gone before".
The last weekend of the month and again, four weeks later in March are big
tides. Low tide is at dawn and the early riser may hunt the unexplored flats
and bars of Sound and Bay. If the day is above freezing, as it is likely
to be, this may be a prime opportunity to rake or dig a few early season
morsels.
Spring tides are also a good time to find the high ground and take a good
look at the changes the winter has wrought. Bars have shifted, built and
disappeared since last summer. Taking a look now from a lighthouse or high
bluff might save a day on the water later.
This is also the time to try for a few Cod from the beach. More successful
in years past, a few souls still succeed is finding a fresh dinner with
no more engineering than a hook, a clam and a line tossed into the surf.
In all honesty, the fishing might not be fruitful but what a great excuse
to sit in the truck on the beach and watch the waves and the seals for a
few hours. Who knows what might happen?
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