Cape Cod Canal, what is on the bottom? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

BassyiusMaximus · 09-20-2006, 03:18 PM

I go over the canal, drive alongside of it, but have never fished it and to the delight of most of you, I might never fish it.

My question is, what is on the bottom of that canal? Is it sandy? I mean, when they dug it out and before the water ran through it, it must have been just sand or dirt on the bottom and I can only imagine that over time the sand and stuff washed away to leave behind a boulder/rock strewn bottom.

I ask because I see that many jig the canal, and if you do, how in the world do you do it with all those rocks down there, or do you accept the losses and try not to get hung up. Are there areas that are sandy on the bottom or is there no such thing since the flow is almost always and has been present?

PoPin Plug · 09-20-2006, 03:21 PM

most of it rocks. but down buy scusset and the sagamore its sandy

Slipknot · 09-20-2006, 03:24 PM

It's lined with lead, the whole thing from one end to the other.

there are muscle beds also that cut your line too.

when they dug it, they had to blast with dynamite, so does that tell you something about it?

Canalman · 09-20-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassyiusMaximus

I go over the canal, drive alongside of it, but have never fished it and to the delight of most of you, I might never fish it.

Why would that delight me? Are you that good that you'd catch all the fish before me or any of us?

Tagger · 09-20-2006, 03:34 PM

I believe they actually dug it twice .. If I remember right 1919 and 1935... first time it was much to narrow and dangerous .. I have a book somewhere about Boston and how it improved as a port because of the canal .

MAC · 09-20-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tagger

I believe they actually dug it twice .. If I remember right 1919 and 1935... first time it was much to narrow and dangerous ..

Wow you do have a good memory. I didn't think you could remember back that far.

Mike P · 09-20-2006, 03:45 PM

Rocks, mussel beds lined with starfish, kelp beds, mud, ledges, some sandy stretches, ghost lobster traps, ropes and other assorted debris cast off from vessels or that washes in from the ends, miles of broken off line, much of it braided that will be there forever, and about 1000 of my jigs.

oke:

PoPin Plug · 09-20-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike P

Rocks, mussel beds lined with starfish, kelp beds, mud, ledges, some sandy stretches, ghost lobster traps, ropes and other assorted debris cast off from vessels or that washes in from the ends, miles of broken off line, much of it braided that will be there forever, and about 1000 of my jigs.

oke:

wow i forgot......... alot... hahaha

BassyiusMaximus · 09-20-2006, 04:19 PM

The other reason why I ask is that while building the new flyover on the Sagamore end, I noticed that the dip/holes they made for the new pavement, it was all sand unless they blasted then trucked in the sand which is what they probably did, and they are not more than, what?, 1/2-1/4 mile away from the canal/water.

I figure that way back then they blasted/dug and only needed a space large enough to get the trucks/equipment through and left the rest because they knew it would be a canal, not a drive-through. Nevertheless, does anyone think that the fish would eventually be in there as they are today?

NIB · 09-20-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC

Wow you do have a good memory. I didn't think you could remember back that far.

Saltheart · 09-20-2006, 06:16 PM

its lined with lead

Diggin Jiggin · 09-20-2006, 06:25 PM

Yup, and theres kelp beds, and eel grass beds too. Although I've been doing my damnest to weed out one of the eel grass beds. 3 blades a cast, wonder how long that will take

UserRemoved1 · 09-20-2006, 06:49 PM

Jimmy Hoffa

Nebe · 09-20-2006, 06:57 PM

theres striped bass too

Swimmer · 09-20-2006, 07:17 PM

I could swear I watched a show on the tele about a dive team that floated through the canal a few years ago and the bottom didn't have much structure at all. Thought it was a diver's down show. I probably way off base on this but I do have some recollection about seeing divers float along with the current and thier cameras........anybody else?

clambelly · 09-20-2006, 07:40 PM

the only time ive ever seen people diving in the canal is when they were building the new pier at the maritime academy. also, they inspect that same structure every now and then.

even when people drown in the canal, they usually float with the tide out the mouth. a guy fell off the bridge while painting a number of years ago and his saftey rope was too long. he hit the water and was dead on impact most likely. they picked him up just outside the west end of the canal.

nightfighter · 09-20-2006, 07:52 PM

North side, 120 feet off the wall, 1/3 in from the east, is a big ass brick....I found it and it stopped 9 tons DEAD doing 4.5k over bottom......

Rob Rockcrawler · 09-20-2006, 07:57 PM

there is also about 500 gamatasu 5/0 circle hooks and about 350 half ounce rubber core sinnkers...

stiff tip · 09-21-2006, 05:27 AM

whats on the bottom??? smoooo sand , gravel ,rubbell, rocks granit e boulders,mussell beds,kelp,n weed beds also cars ,boats , bikes, parts of the old bridges (2).rigs, jigs n sinkers,...10,000 lobsters traps ,and at lease 1,000,000 plugs n lures , gifts from the land people,to help spar-kill up the bottom ... also lots of lobsters..... did i forget something??????????

ProfessorM · 09-21-2006, 08:25 AM

Yeah half my fishin rod and a friends boot.

Mike P · 09-21-2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiff tip

did i forget something??????????

Yeah--what's left of Whitey Bulger

zimmy · 09-21-2006, 08:39 AM

I'm not as whitty as I thought

Salty beat me to it...

gone fishin · 09-21-2006, 04:28 PM

If anyone really wants to know the history of the canal, stop in the visitor’s center on the Sandwich side east end of the canal. Run by the Corps of Engineers, I think. Lots of good info about the original canal and the second digging. Also about the first RR bridge and crossings. You will be pleasantly surprised. They also have the original patrol boat long retired inside for viewing.

Too damn bad they couldn't see fit to include the old tug from the borne side! Even though it has nothing to do with the history of the ditch.
As far as the modern bottom --- I have left my share of ell skin jigs and lead over the years. No wonder the stripers and fish coming from the diitch are poisonous.

chris L · 09-21-2006, 04:36 PM

I know when my jig makes into the middle it feels like sand .when I shoot short or past middle it feels like rocks and ledge ,kelp ,mussle beds , boulders and maybe a few shopping carts and tires ( or full cars ) .

but I bet you might find patty the patriot the canal monster . i know I was splashed once

CanalGuy · 09-22-2006, 01:34 AM

No one told ya the Loch-Ness monster swam over.

Flaptail · 09-22-2006, 07:07 AM

You all forgot the remains of the Stephen R. Jones which went aground 1000 yards east of the Bourne Bridge on June 28, 1942. During the height of the second world war. It was blasted (blown up) in place starting on July 4th 1942 and took 28 days to clear the canal by that method which was the fastest way to do it being the canal was an important defensive element in keeping shipping from going around the outer cape where German U-Boats where lurking. It's still there and is the cause of the rip behind Gallo's Ice Arena. Watch your compass when travelling over it, it will spin like mad for a minute going over all that rusted metal laying on the bottom.