First Trout

From the folks at Cape Cod Outdoors. The best, area specific, outdoor site.

If you don't usually fish for trout in March it's probably because it's still a bit cold and damp outside. Not very comfortable fishing weather, not like July anyway. And fishing for trout is, well, chancy. You could be out there casting to empty water, you know. Not like fishing for stripers in May or largemouths in July.
But wait a minute, don't they stock in March?
Yep.
Doesn't that mean the easiest, like going to the fresh fish market, fishing of the whole year?
Yep.
Okay, let's rethink this spring trout fishing thing. You own warm clothes and probably already have most of the tackle you need. That only leaves using a winning technique in a place that has hungry fish. We can cover that.
Let's start with tackle and technique and finish with where and when.
The trout stocked into Cape and Islands ponds and rivers in the spring are mostly one to two pound fish. That means all your light and ultralight spinning tackle will work just fine.
Flyfishermen can use almost any line, except possibly the rocket sinkers. This is an excellent opportunity to stretch out the curls from last year's line in anticipation of another season. In addition, most fishing is from shore into four to eight feet of water, easily fished with the six foot remnants of last year's nine foot leaders.
Where do you cast once you've gotten to the pond? Well, if they've been stocked within the past two or three days, then they are cruising and feeding just offshore and spreading out like a fan from the stocking point.
Where's the stocking point on your closest trout pond? That information is usually common knowledge in your local tackle shop or you can find it yourself without too much trouble. Look for the place closest to the water where the Division can drive a small but heavy truck full of fish. Double tire tracks may be the final tip off. It's that simple.
What'll they hit? Well, if the truck just left, anything they see. But if its been a few hours or days then a little refinement may be in order.
Let's consider bait first. There is a lot of use of the "power" baits in the spring. They work well but my guess is that much of their popularity comes from their convenience. Close the jar and pocket it for the next trip and you're all set; no refrigeration of worms or aeration of minnows required.
However, if you choose live baits your by-catch may be as interesting as the trout. Garden worms will likely yield you some yellow perch; while nightcrawlers often produce bass of both kinds. Shiners are good for attracting pike type fish as well as some of the bigger holdover browns.
Whatever you are using, except for the shiners, fish right on the bottom. Add just enough split shot or a slip sinker to cast to where you want and prop the pole on a stick. That's all it takes and now you can stick your hands back in your pockets for warmth and talk to the other folks out trying their luck.
If you like to cast lures you need to think small. Spinners are often one of the best choices. Choose the lightest you can cast, size #0 or #1 if possible. That ultralight and the four pound test line comes in handy here. If you have to go to a heavier lure to get a little distance, okay, but limit your colors to silver or white and be sure to fish as low and as slow as you can. It's never a mistake to let the spinner hit bottom before you retrieve. That way you know you are down where the fish are and you will get a lot more hits than if they have to come up to your lure.
Other mini-lures to consider are small spoons; an eighth ounce or less in silver and sinking plugs four centimeters or less in length. Both of these will cast further than the ultralight spinners but must be fished faster. It's a tradeoff.
One strategy is to fish to the limit of your cast with a spinner and then switch to something heavier. A plug will cast a bit further and if you really feel you need the distance, go to the spoon. In this way you can get the best fishing from each lure type.
Flyfishing can be very successful on early trout because you are able to fish as slowly as you (and the trout) like. An intermediate sinking line, six pound leader and a brown or black wooley bugger on a #12 hook is just about right. Retrieve slowly along the bottom for best results. Other patterns work well too: I like a hare's ear, some favor a matuka or a hornberg and even a little deceiver can sometimes stir things up. After the fish have settled in and spread out you'll often find them feeding deeper but they can still be found on the surface at the wind line and a little peacockl herl fly will draw a lot of strikes here.
The point is that these early stockings of trout are hungry fish bent on racing their neighbors to whatever moves within their line of sight. Fishing is usually pretty easy if you fish the stocked waters some time after the trucks have come. You should keep in mind too, that the Division restocks the same trout waters a number of times in the spring. This means that once stocking has begun in March fishing is likely to be excellent well into April and May.
When and where are the fish stocked? When is determined by water temperature but in average warm years, like this one, stocking usually begins the first week of March and continues five days a week throughout the month until more than a 100,000 fish have been placed in nearly a hundred ponds and rivers.
Hatchery workers alternate stocking up and down the Cape and Islands so that all areas are provided opportunities for good fishing as early as possible. Following this article is a list of stocked trout waters from past years. This should give you a good idea where you can find good fishing close to your home.
Remember too that the Division has been stocking salmon from the New England salmon breeding programs. These fish have been placed in Big Cliff, Sheep's and Peter's ponds on the Cape. Just last fall, another 120 of these fish ranging in size from 6 to 25 pounds were brought to the Cape. This is truly a unique opportunity to catch a sport fish.
If you are going for salmon, one Division employee recommends trolling for the best effect. Flyfishers can use the classic salmon flies: Grey Ghosts, Jock Scotts and even muddlers. Spinfishers might also stick with the tried and true mooselook wobbler or a similar long spoon.
Good luck on the salmon and the trout too. This is a fine way to start the season and our license fees pay for this opportunity; so why not get out on a balmy day and take advantage of this sportsman's bonus.
It's easier than you think!

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