Cape Cod Canal Rats

 Bite Me Bait Co's ,Paul Franey, (Mr. Ed) shows us the way to big fish.

Mr. Ed uses his own home made eel jigs designed to skim over the rocks that make the canal such a haven for the striped bass.

You can judge their value on your own!

Canal Rats are early risers and know where to start their day. If the tide is right head for the Maritime Academy. Or if it's really right then the east end is where you want to be. Talk about Keep an Eye on the other Guy. If you don't know where to fish or how to fish the canal then follow these guys around till you get it right.

"As you can see we do alright for mature specimens of the fishing population!" Again the smiles tell it all. One thing to notice about the Canal Bike is that there is no bar in the way of rapid deployment.

"Lucky stiff got here before us again." mumbled the group. "Maybe we should flatten his tires!" Of course they were only kidding.  "Ya once in a while I get to the sweet spot first." laughed Mr. Ed. "This is one of my average fish this year. Mobility is the key to successful canal fishing. If you can get to where the fish are feeding your success rate goes way up."

Great exercise along with great fishing! How can you beat this. We even get to ride in the July 4th parade. Mr. Ed shows another beautiful line sider.

There's always a rivalry between fishermen,  but these guys have their own family that pedals from one end of the canal to the other. They compare notes and help each other whenever they can. Sometime, if you want to learn the trade, go down to the Scusset Beach end and stop at the pier and watch how it's done. The first guy in line starts at the end of the pier from which the current comes and casts "upstream". As his jig sinks and is swept in the current the fisherman "follows" his jig down the pier and the next one replaces him and does the same thing. That way everyone has the same chance to catch fish and not get in each others way. Right now the canal is full of striped bass heading south, and they will be here till the bait leaves. So get out your rod and reel and all your gear. Get it all tuned up, beg the wife for a "Canal Bike" for Christmas and get down and watch these men in action. You to could join the "club" and learn to catch fish too.