mantua

[wiperslayer1]

Wiperhunter,Ahi and I are catching perch and rainbows at mantua 3"good ice at ramp area with a few people out today.started on east side but a little to scary for us.
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[Crimson]

Any size to the perch? I've caught some good sized ones out of Mantua.

Thanks for the report!
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[wiperslayer1]

So far most around 8 to 10"
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[EyLayo]

Did you try getting on by the stairs this morning? It wasn't quite ready when I was out there yesterday so I stayed around boat ramp this morning. Saw a few heading out east, so I wonder if it built enough ice overnight
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[wiperslayer1]

That is were we went first and it was not the best so we moved to ramp side.
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[EyLayo]

Thank you. Hopefully they keep biting you. Ramp area was starting to fill up with people when I was leaving
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[hookin-em]

I was out as well today in the green tent farther down from everyone else 3-4 in just about everywhere I drilled fishing was great got some friends on there first fish through the ice hopefully it holds up. Might give her another go in the morning!
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[wiperhunter2]

Here is a couple of pics of the perch we caught this morning. These are just the ones we kept, threw back 4 or 5 smaller ones. We also caught 6 to 8 trout and lost the biggest of the day right at the hole that was around 20", maybe bigger, never got a tape on it but it was the biggest I've had on at Mantua, ever. Not sure the number that John caught but I'm guessing at least 10 more trout and perch. It was a good start to our ice fishing season. As Ira said, ice was thin in the back, where we walked on from the South side the first thing in the morning and when it started cracking and dropping, we got out of there. Ice was much better where we ended up but was still cracking if you got too close to each other. Never found any ice much over 3" and that was measured with a tape measure. Ice near the ramp area was clear, ice in the back was half clear, half frozen snow/slush. I know several BFT members fished in the back but I won't go back there for at least a week or longer, if it doesn't warm up before then.
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[EyLayo]

Good job with the big trout. Nothing of size for me today. Too bad I couldn't chase them longer
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[fishroof]

nice to hear that ice is very safe.
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[Crimson]

Nice! Good fillet size.
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[Crimson]

Great pics! They look fat and healthy. Those pictures really give me the itch to get out soon.

All my stuff is ready, just been waiting for some news. This is why Bigfishtackle is such a great resource. Thanks for the report.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Hey it’s not very safe it’s verily safe, make sure you check and go slow it was cracking and sagging after noon and was getting a little scary. Do not take this as open season we are on ice one inch thinner than usual kick off. So that means there is a lot of risk and you need to be very careful if you go now. There are areas of 2” or less ice and it is not comfortable to fish on or cross. It will hold but one discontinuity and you’re in the cold drink. So not to shoot you down but to make sure you exercise caution. It’s fun and great fishing, but please use your head. Don’t get too close to other anglers, don’t take heavy stuff on the ice with you. Limit running on the ice unless you’re staying in front of a crack. Watch the edges and springs. Follow the well established trails. Ok enough of being my Dad. Have fun J
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[Ahi1953]

A few more pictures of today's venture. If any of you plan on hitting Mantua tomorrow please use caution . Ice where I was at was not quit 3" and there were times when wiperhunter and would get a little to close to each other while talking and had the ice crack. also there were a few spots out just a little ways from us that looked open or very thin.
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[EyLayo]

May I ask why your sled is on pvc and wood blocks on skis? Is that for deep snow or slush? My sled seems to slide along ok
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[Ahi1953]

Yes it is for deep snow, also later in the season I take a lot of more junk ( tent, underwater cam , gas auger, heater.) I had found that the skis pull a lot easier.
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[SkunkedAgain]

I’ll just add an encore to Johns reply. Love my Smitty, the skis on our sleds. I took my little jet sled first trip this year with a relatively light load for me and I really struggled to get the sled and gear back up the hill to my truck. Been taking my bigger sled with the skis since and taking a ton more gear and I move it with ease. You’re welcome to try pulling mine around anytime and see the difference. And the deeper the snow gets the better the smitty will perform. Later J
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[wiperhunter2]

[quote fishroof]nice to hear that ice is very safe.[/quote]

I would not go so far as to say it is very safe, in fact if you access the ice from the South side, I'd say it is unsafe but that's me, skunkedagain and several other BFT fished there and were ok but as mentioned DO NOT GET CLOSE TO OTHER PEOPLE. If you look at some of the pics Ahi1953 took you can see the wet spots around the holes we were fishing, this was caused by the ice sagging in those locations. Be safe out there and use extreme caution while fishing this early ice.
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[EyLayo]

Interesting... I saw another guy in the parking lot with his raised up like that, seemed odd. Then I saw yours in the picture and it got me thinkin. Sort of thought the smaller surface area of the skis would dih into the snow more instead of floating on top with just he tub. I guess more surface area means more friction and resistance also. Thanks for the first hand info. Might have to do some tinkering now.
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[Fowl-Hook]

Congratulations on a Nice batch of Perch, good start for the season.
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