How shady is the Canal?

[luds]

Just curious. I've fished it once with someone but I've been doing alot of work in that area lately and have been thinking about giving it a whirl again. I've heard some horror stories from this year as far as stolen gear and I could see some shady stuff going down at night.

Do those of you that fish there feel comfortable fishing alone at night?

Anyone have any good tales to share or is it all in my imagination?

[Back Beach]

Mike,

I fish it pretty frequently. Due to its proximity there is ample opportunity for the riff raff of the world to easily access the place and steal. I've had gear taken in the daytime from the back of my pickup years ago. Actually it was a pogie cast net. As for personal safety I've never had an incident that wasn't self induced, but always keep an eye out in certain areas just in case. Also, I only carry what I need. Sounds worse than it is due to the internet and relative speed at which news travels. It’s always been about the same. I'm more worried about drunken kids than anything else because I fish the graveyard shift a lot. Just about the time I'm getting out they're on the way in and we cross paths quite often in some locales.
As for the shade factor, I would give it a 6 out of 10 for night fishing and a 2 out of 10 for day fishing.......
with a 1 being a nursing home and a 10 being a combat zone.

[BrianS]

There is nothing better than fishing the canal on a misty night with a light breeze and fog.... Natures air conditioner

Granted.. you can spook yourself into oblivion, but I feel safe when I am there.

[Rockport24]

there was a thread on SOL I think a while back with a lot of ghost stories about the canal... like people have seen ghosts!!!

[BrianS]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

there was a thread on SOL I think a while back with a lot of ghost stories about the canal... like people have seen ghosts!!!

more skunks than ghosts... (both the animal and the virtual)

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by BrianS

more skunks than ghosts... (both the animal and the virtual)

who ya gonna call!


ok sorry for the hijack...

[Joe]

Show me someone who believes in ghosts and I'll show you someone who never dug graves for a living.

[Rockport24]

ok I do feel bad about hijacking, but I would take a ghost over a group of drunken punks any night!
Joe, are you saying digging graves proves ghosts don't exist?

[macojoe]

I haven't fed the canal any gear in a few years, But I always felt safe and never had any problems night or day!
I see a lot of people leave stuff up by the road, and you down in the rocks is going to make it hard to save anything if even you see someone take it!!
Do as stated above, bring only what you need and keep it near and you will be fine.

[Circlehook]

I have never had a problem at the canal. Just mind your own business and move on if someone enroaches. It seems the PD has stepped up patrols this year at all hours.

The coyotes crying can pick up your pulse on those foggy nights though.

[Circlehook]

The ghost comment actually got me thinking. A few weeks ago, about 2 am, I was fishing alone, capeside, and I kept getting the feeling someone was behind me. It was low tide and a little foggy and I kept turning around and looking toward the woods. I kept feeling a "presense" all night behind me, but noone was there. very spooky.

[Bronko]

I usually look like the nut in all dark clothing hat pulled down tight to thwart the pterodactyl sized mosquitos... muttering to myself after a missed hit on a jig...or letting out a tourettes type scream as I hang another pogie soaked ron-z on the structure at my favorite rip.


aaaaah the canal.

[Tagger]

Not that shady Mike .. I've never had a problem ever .. I've heard drunks making a racket before once or twice but thats about it .. I park in shady spots I probably shouldn't .. unlit .. dirt lots.. You can get mugged anywhere.. I can almost 100% guarantee you will have no problem .. A couple of guys get robbed and internett blab and mass paranoia ... I'll be your guide .. show you all.. All you have to do is puke your honey hole ..

P.S. I carry a big knife ... insurance

[hyefisherman2]

i wouldnt fish their alone at night...but then again im still a youngen

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I dont think it is shady at all. YEah a few drunks wander around and there might be a bit of a domestic dispute on occasion but i have never been hastled. The last few years i have been fishing exclusively weekends, when there are a lot of people of all sorts around. I dont talk to anyone when im out there. Im there to fish. If i get moved in on at a spot i move. Instead of informing them of what they are doing is cramping my drift, i no longer drift into their chunks to snag their lines as a statement. Im always at the waters edge so its pretty quiet. Fish it, enjoy it.

[BigFish]

I was fishing down there with Slingah a few weeks ago and a bunch of "Canal Toughs" riding girls bikes...errrr.....sorry...step thru frame bikes, came thundering down the path on the mainland side.....scary looking bunch! They tried to shake me down for some wood but we struck a deal and I gave one of them a canal pencil and he hauled our fish to our truck on his bike! Just like trading beads to the indians for land......find common ground and carry some extra wood!

[Saltheart]

I almost always go with someone. Fishing from sunset into the night I think its a good idea to have a partner. If I'm going alone , its in the morning (Like 4 AM to dawn , the drunks have passed out by then).

I was once in a very remote area of the canal and a guy comes all the way down the hill under the bushes and asks me if I was alone. Not "Hows the fishing?" or "getting any?" he aks "are you alone?". he was not dressed for fishing.

Fortunately I was not alone and I think it was TimS starts yelling at me like what the heck was I doing talking to the bushes. The guy heard Tim and turned and ran (yes ran) away.

There is no doubt in my mind that the guy was packing and that he was there to rob me if I had been alone.

[beaver]

It always helps to fish with someone, but thats not always possible. When I do fish the canal at night I like to stay near high traffic parking areas, ones that the rangers and police frequent. I have seen some pretty shady things, but have never been bothered. I do find myself looking behind me pretty often. Not a shade over 5'5" I would be an easy target for someone looking for trouble. Come to think of it maybe I should start packing.... I also like to park at a place where I could hear my car alarm go off, ie the herring run or bell rd, but thats not always the case. The more you think something bad will happen, the more scared/less fun you will have and when your catching, it always seems less shady.

[chris L]

they cut down the trees along the service road so no shade .




In the years I have fished there I have never had an issue with anyone wanting to mess with me or my stuff .

[hyefisherman2]

a few guys i was fishing with on sunday brought up the idea that yes, when your fishing there is nothing to worry about....but what about when biking/walking to a spot? i worry...

ive been safe so far this year, but then again i'm not fishing REAL late at night nor real early in the morning like you guys......yet

[BrianS]

[MAC]

Originally Posted by hyefisherman2

a few guys i was fishing with on sunday brought up the idea that yes, when your fishing there is nothing to worry about....but what about when biking/walking to a spot? i worry...

ive been safe so far this year, but then again i'm not fishing REAL late at night nor real early in the morning like you guys......yet

If you want to get spooked park at 100 steps and walk down on a foggy night by yourself.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by MAC

If you want to get spooked park at 100 steps and walk down on a foggy night by yourself.

Hey Look who popped in...

Hey MAC..........

[Crafty Angler]

The only time I ever fished the Canal I was lucky enough to have Mac as a "guide" and besides his recommendations to us that night plain old common sense would tell you to be careful about stuff, like Mike P said.

Actually, me and Nebe were Pilgrims from RI on that outing during the MA S-B leg a couple of years back - Mac (and Mrs Mac) invited us along at the meet and greet at CC Tackle. Bassmaster was there too and he was the only dangerous character I remember seeing

So I would think Mike P's assessment is probably right on the beans - as always the good counselor knows whereof he speaks.

Hi Mac, good to see ya round these parts, hope all is well with you and the missus

[seadevil]

Just don't cast over anybody's line in full drift and you'll be plenty safe

[hyefisherman2]

Originally Posted by seadevil

Just don't cast over anybody's line in full drift and you'll be plenty safe

not worried about other jiggers chris....its the punks on the service road.

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by MAC

If you want to get spooked park at 100 steps and walk down on a foggy night by yourself.

I used to walk that path night after night when I was selling. Heard all thwe stories, the young girl beaten and bloodied coming up to people and asking where she could find a phone to call her father only problem she had been dead for near 20 years and she just walked away to disapear in the night.

There was a murder there and that does inspire ghost stories and I will admit the hairs always went up on my neck when getting to the spot at the top of the stairs and sometimes there would be a cold chill to the air even though it might be the most humid and warm August night.

Never ran into her though. I did have a scare one night when it was really nasty weatherwise. It was blowing 30 plus n'east and raining I was there on a weekday morning for the dying west tide to drift eels at the 100 steps area. I was alone as I figured I would be as the weather was horrible and as I was standing in my spot a huge white thing just leaped out of the water not 50 feet in front of me and crashed in and dissapeared. Like a 30 pure white whale. I levitated with a gasp out of the water onto the banking in reverse all the way.

Once on the bank I regained my composure and heard it downtide break again. I ran down a couple poles and waited by 245 and sure enough it came pitchpoling right out and crashed back in again and this time I could identify what it was.

It was an O'Day day sailor maybe 18 feet long dismasted and being sucked down in the current and thrown back out again end over end. That thing cleared the water by at least 10 to 12 feet of its length before splashing down again. Jesus it scared the sh!t out of me.

The only time I ever had any trouble was with two guys trying to steal my matching pair of JK Fishers during the height of the herring run many years ago. There were guys everywhere and I was flaoting my basket down with a bunch in it and saw two guys eyeing my stuff ( I was about fifty feet from anyone elase but there were people all over) and one guy just hops down and grabs them just as I get there . I managed to bean him with a football sized rock whereupon he dropped the rods and the other one came to help him and I drew my knife ( I always had a knife taped to one strap of my waders shoulder strap back then and it was always nice and sharp) seeing this they took off with one of them bleeding profusely from the head.

I had foxes steal my eels and skunks block my way on a path to the water since but no other trouble ( there are several areas reported as "haunted" though" boooo)

[hyefisherman2]

brian, SICK picture!