Mantua??

[toadly]

So I see no one has posted on Mantua in a while..
The ice HAS to be off by now, and I have the itch to fish.
Unfortunately I have to work. Anyone been there? Is the water low? Prespawn is in order, head to the shallows.
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[hunter9893]

I heard they drained Mantua! Their is definitley no fish in there.

J/K ....I was there last weekend and there was enough room to launch my canoe from the dock by the inflow. The ice should be gone by now, if not damn close.
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[Bama_Boy]

The ice was off by last Sunday at the latest. Could have been off a few days earlier. Other than that, I don't know anyone who has fished it yet. I was planning on heading there with the boat Friday, but the weather forecast has me thinking I won't be going.
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[Ktrout]

When I drove by on Saturday the ice was off, but didn't see anyone on the lake. I also drove by on Sunday and didn't see anyone on the lake.
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[Edogg03]

I tubed mantua on Sunday. There was on boat out there and the lake is ice free just a small amount on east side I floated for a couple of hours dragging a worm and through in spinners and cranks only got one 8"ish planter bow
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[toadly]

Thanks for the reports! 8" bow?? Wonder if DWR planted the lake already.
All we need is a sunny day or two and the Bows will turn on. Bass should be as well once the temps come up a bit. These fish are hungry and should be bidding!! Looks like the weather wont be agreeable this weekend,, maybe next.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF][cool]I suspect that Mantua will be slow for a while. Like most of the other lakes it was heavily iced for a bit longer than "normal"...whatever that is. The vegetation under the ice died off and decomposed during the long ice cover period...depleting oxygen and messing up the pH of the water. It will take some wind and warm sunshine to aerate the water and warm it up a bit.
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[toadly]

Hey'a TD! I have a question that I'm sure you know the answer to. I always hear of the "great fishing" during and just after ice off. To what are they referring?? Its been my experience that ,(like you said) it takes some time till the bite is on.
Oh by the way, the feed lot on Willard is a big zero. At least the day I went last week. Waited for a nice day no fronts on the horizon. Fish deep and shallow with cut Chub and a big Zero.. Just a heads up. UL is probably good I bet.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000FF]Iceout fishing CAN be good...but only if conditions are good for the fishies. Usually best after a short winter...or in lakes where there is good fresh water inflow to keep the water healthy. Whenever the fish are stressed after a long winter it is not usually so good until conditions improve.

It will be interesting to test that theory on Strawberry this spring. Sometimes it is gangbusters for tossing lures right up onto the receding ice and then dropping them into the water. And at other lakes you can do well by running Rapalas right along the edge of the ice for cruising predators. But if the fish are holding in only one or two areas of the lake...with better chemistry and more warmth...then it won't be so pretty good elsewhere. Gotta find active fish to catch much.

Sorry Wierd "Willy" didn't treat you nice. Did the same to me last year...on several trips. My observation is that cat numbers are lower and they are spread out more...and harder to find and catch. In years past that feedlot area has produced 20-30 cat days this time of year...and into the summer. Last year I don't think I got more than a half dozen on any trip...and usually fewer.

I think Willard has been subject to the "long winter syndrome" too. Knowledgeable regulars on Willard have reported unusual stratification in the water since iceout...with detectable layers of temperature and density of the water. Again, until wind and heavy inflows of spring runoff agitate and replenish the lake it is likely to be iffy for most species...and especially those that hang out near the bottom.

The walleyes defy that pattern by running up into the fresh water of the inlet and hanging around the wave-washed rocks. They are motivated to do their spawning thing. But if the water conditions in the main lake don't improve the post spawn action is not likely to be stellar.

Hopefully, the next couple of weeks see a combination of oxygenating storms and warming temps. The fishies need a kick start.

Utah Lake is shallower and is already seeing the benefits of spring conditions. It iced out a bit ahead of Willard and is starting to show some love to the guys who love it back.

Be patient my son. It is still very early in a year of promise.
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[wiperhunter2]

[quote toadly]
Oh by the way, the feed lot on Willard is a big zero. At least the day I went last week. Waited for a nice day no fronts on the horizon. Fish deep and shallow with cut Chub and a big Zero.. Just a heads up. [/quote]

Hey Todd, were you by the old coffer dam last Friday, with a couple others and two dogs?
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Sorry - won't quote it, but check the stocking reports. May take a week to "acclimatize", but the widdle bows are there.

Me - I'd like to know what the panfish and bass are thinnin at this point. My local rivers/sloughs say "high, turbid, and flowing with fresh runoff"...

Won't go into air -temp and other conditions, Too much of a setback. . .

[toadly]

No wasn't me, we went early in the week after work. Water is low and the coffer is still out. Did throw a few lures but of course nothing bit.
Thought the shallow water would be warmer.
Guess I will golf for a few more weeks till the fish wake up.[]
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