In a recent blog post I wrote about fly fishing in Cape Cod, and how it can provide some of the best saltwater fly fishing around.

But you don’t have to take my word for it.

Longtime angler Doug Alichwer has been going down to the Cape Cod since the summer of 2006, and he shares some of his tips with us to help you get the most out of your fly fishing adventure in Cape Cod:

As noted above, Alichwer has taken a weekly vacation to the shores of Cape Cod to do some saltwater fly fishing since 2006.

And while some good fishing can be had from pangas, or boats, nearshore, Alichwer tends to spend most of his excursions wading and shore fishing from the beach.

“It is a relatively inexpensive getaway: gas, food and motel,” he points out.

While Alichwer is quick to point out he’s not a fly fishing expert per say, he definitely has some great tips for getting the most out of your trip.

Even if you decide to go fishing without a guide.

In fact, there are plenty of resources online and on paper that can help you get on some fish if you just know where to look.

Here are some of Alichwer’s top tips:

Read About Cape Code Shore Fishing

Find books/websites related to the species you are fishing for and the area you will be fishing in. Some books that I found helpful:

• Bourque, Gary. Fishing New England: A Cape Cod Shore Guide. Falmouth, MA. On The Water. 2000.

• Caolo, Alan. Sight-Fishing for Striped Bass. Portland, OR. Frank Amato Publications. 2001.

• Jaworowski, Ed and Bob Popovics. Pop Fleyes: Bob Popovic’s Approach to Saltwater Fly Design.

Mechanicsburg, PA. Stackpole Books. 2001.

• Kreh, Lefty. Saltwater Fly Patterns. Guilford, CT. Lyons Press. 1995.

Ask Online About Cape Cod Fishing

If you’re looking for help about Cape Cod fly fishing, just ask. There are plenty of great online fishing communities and forums dedicated to fly fishing the Cape. Just ask Alichwer.

“Follow some online forums,” he notes. “This is a great way to get some inside information.”

Have a Plan Before You Go

Alichwer recommends getting as organized as you can before your trip, planning out when and where you’re going to fish.

“Have a plan but be flexible,” he added. “First of all you have to remember it is a vacation and it is nice to be throwing a line.

“Talk to others you meet along the way. Just remember to use their information with a wary eye. People are always ‘catching fish’ somewhere and people are happy to tell you that. You can spend half your time traveling to those supposed hot spots.”

Other than that, Alichwer has the following three tactical tips for fishing the Cape Cod:

1. Match the bait fish. During the time I am at the Cape, sand eels are the bait of choice. The fly of choice is an olive/white clouser minnow. This has been very successful in the past years but this year a yellow clouser fooled a couple of fish.

2. My rod(s) of choice are an 8 weight and 9 weight

3. I carry two types of line: a fast sink and an intermediate sink tip.

Alichwer brings both because there are so many different factors to consider when fishing in a completely different part of the world than you’re used to.

Unfortunately not all of us are accustomed to fly fishing tropical waters and white-sand beaches.

“There are so many factors that go into a trip like this: weather, tide, wind, light, time of year, water color, some you can anticipate and others are beyond your control,” he concluded. “The thing to remember is that it is supposed to be fun and relaxing. Try to do as much homework as possible before you go and when you get there make adjustments as needed. Enjoy!” Enjoyed this From the Guides piece? Check out some other From the Guides articles on:
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Fly Fishing Northern New Mexico: The Chama River and other fine fisheries make New Mexico a hidden gem for fly fishers.
Fly Fishing Cape Cod: A look at some tips for for shore fly fishing Cape Cod.
Fly Fishing Cranberry River: All about fly fishing the tasty river in West Virginia.