HELP WITH MANTUA

[ROYTROUT]

I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD GET SOME WITH FISHING MANTUA.. MY BOYS WANT TO GO THIS WEEKEND AND I'VE NEVER FISHED THERE BEFORE BUT THEY WANT TO GO AFTER SOME BASS.. WHAT AREA OF THE RES. IS GOOD TO FISH FOR BASS? WE WILL BE FISHING FROM A SMALL BOAT.. THANKS
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[PREDATOR]

This weekend will probably be tough conditions, not impossible, but tough for the bass. last weekend I was up there, and there was several boats fishing bass and having a rough go at it. With the temps last week climbing into the 75 degree range, then dropping to 30 degrees by the end of the week, the bass got a jolt.

Looks a lot like the same deal this week. 75 by wednesday, but cold and rain by friday. Could be tough. Especially for a first timer.

But bass should be responding to the warming and moving a bit shallower pre-spawn. The water temp is still in the low 40's so you will have to fish slow, and may have to work your lures deeper than typical for largemouth.

90% of your bass anglers will beat the east side shore near the middle of the lake. the east side has the "best LOOKING" bass water. Theres trees into the water, rock, weed and sand, so it gets hit real hard simply because it LOOKS like good bass water. And it is. The east side does produce bass all the time.

But the west dike holds bass as well, as do the weed rings right out in the middle of the lake. its really a game of edges at mantua not so much structure. The cover is literally everywhere so bass realating to cover can be anywhere in the lake, anytime.

Edges where open water meets weedlines, or weed rings. Where the shore changes from rock to sand. Where the bottom changes from weed to rock.

Right now, the best places to look are going to be shallow places where the water warms first, and quickly near good spawning locations.

Its a small lake, so I dont want to give away specifics online. Next time I am up there I wont have a spot to fish. Ya know?
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[ROYTROUT]

THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP.. WAS THE TROUT FISHING ANY GOOD LAST WEEKEND? I'VE ALWAYS JUST GONE OUT FOR TROUT BUT MY YOUNGEST SON HAS BEEN WATCHING OLN ON SAT. MORNINGS AND THINKS HE NEEDS TO GO BASS FISHING SO I GAME TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.. I GOT SOME LEAD HEADS AND SOME WHITE CURLY TAIL JIGS TO TRY.. DO YOU EVER HAVE ANY LUCK TROLLING WITH A SPINNER UP THERE.
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[neveronsunday]

[red][size 3]I'm certainly not the expert and float tubers with their fly lines consistantly out fish me but I have never been skunked with a big lipped crank bait or a brownish/blackish flatfish with a yelllowish/orangeish underside. [/size][/red]
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[PREDATOR]

I have been talking with craig schaugarrd who is the northern region biologist, and who is in charge of mantua about mantua. Also this winter I talked to mr shultz who lives in mantua and is a game warden assigned to mantua.

The trout in there had a real hard time last summer. With water temps over 80 degrees and the lake depths not being deep enough to allow sufficiently cooled depths for trout to survive and maintain good health. The DWR is scheduled to do some nettings this spring to evaluate the situation. But it doesnt look good.

Your boy is on the right path. Once you get that first largemouth, its addictive.

As far as having luck with trolling spinners, yeah, last spring I used to take my kids 3 and 4, out there for a couple hours a several times a week trolling for trout. They like to catch them, its close to home so we can make a quick trip out of it, only stay for a couple hours so they dont get bored, and catch lots of fish. But this year looks like a different story.
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[ROYTROUT]

THANKS FOR THE HELP.. I DO HAVE A FEW FLATFISH IN THE BOX SO I'LL BE SURE AND GIVE THEM A TRY..
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[ROYTROUT]

I GUESS SOMETIMES KIDS DO KNOW MORE THAN US PARENTS.. MAYBE IF I GET LUCKY AND HOOK ONE THEN AFTER THAT MAYBE I'LL BE HOOKED..
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