Mantua ice almost gone

[Dr._Love]

The ice was 75% gone from Manuta today so it was time to break out the kayak and fly rod. The bluegill fishing was very good for 8"-9" fish.
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[lavaman]

Nicely done. Love that pond. I've caught a lot of 9-10" gills out of there this Winter. That kill-off this past summer must have done a lot to thin 'em out so they could finally grow up.
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[gofish435]

That is amazing how fast the ice has gone off. I was up there Wednesday afternoon to see if I could put my tube on and there was just a small amount of open water around the edges. The only entertainment I got there was watching two bald eagles on the ice finishing off lunch. Nice fish. Bluegill are a lot of fun to catch when they get that size.
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[Springbuck]

Wow! This part of the year is my weakest game, from late ice until May or so I don't have the touch. I'd filet a limit for you if you'd show me how you did that this early. I even have a kayak.

I get into em hard all spring and summer, but I usually have at least one skunk in early spring there and have always blamed it on jumping the gun.

Good job with the fishing, Dr.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Ditto on the nicely done. Too early, cold for em to be moving to beds, but I've oft heard early ice off can be hot. All of a sudden rush of O2, new nutrients falljng in from ice, and who knows what starts hatching and emerging.

Thanks for the encouraging report.

[Flyfishinglover]

I've been catching some nice bg at my secret ponds all on #18 black zebra midges that I make. Caught 20 in 30 minutes size range 5-8". Still fun on a 5wt fly rod for sure.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Very nice fish and I agree with springbuck its a tough time of year for me as well so I salute your nice haul of great fish. Later J
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[Jordanporritt]

I think I might have seen you out there, we were in a red bass tracker.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Is a Bass Tracker a type of Kayak?

[flygoddess]

[quote CoyoteSpinner]Is a Bass Tracker a type of Kayak?[/quote]



You forgot the smilie[] You are joking, right?


Flies that always worked for me were Micro Leech in Black, Irish Spring, Burgundy and Burnt Orange Semi Seal Leech and Olive and brown Gartside. Oh and Bead head Prince Nymph in a #12
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[Jordanporritt]

I'm with FG, I can't tell if you are being serious or sarcastic lol.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

I'm rarely serious, unless we get talking global warming, greenhouse gases, or dental caries and fluoride.

Probably just me standing with each foot in a puddle, holding the battery cables, and waiting for something to spark my interest.

Wasn't sure if you were serious. The OP said he was in a Kayak - when I google Basstracker, and the ones I looked at when boat shopping (and SHOULD have dove into!) all struck me as motorized shallow v-hull metal bass boats. Seats and steering wheels and fancy stuff.
Wasn't sure if there is some other type of Kayak style bass-tracker, as I'm not very familiar with the Kayak market.

Didn't mean an insult, sorry if I didn't slap on the emoticons - most folks don't seem to 'get' those even when used.

Were you out on the water? If so - in what? (wondering how clear the launch, and main water body are) And in either case - how'd the fish treat you?

[Jordanporritt]

Haha I figured as much. Mine is the little aluminum bass boat style. We launched just fine, broke up a few thin sheets of ice going across but for the most part it was pretty clear. The fishing on the other hand, not so great. We were only after bass, we had one follow but that was it.
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[Dr._Love]

Fishing Mantua this time of the year is about knowing where the water is a littler warmer and oxygenated. There are 3-4 areas that this exists and they are packed with trout, bluegill and small largemouth bass. i suspect there are also big largemouth bass but since I am only offering small flys the big fish don't bother.
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[ajwildcat]

Nice catching up on Mantua, out of curiosity what would you guess the water temp was other than frigid?
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[WstrnEnz801]

I fished mantua Sunday evening all open water caught five pretty bows kept the two biggest for food ! Post pics as I have to resize them. We're caught over by the inlet
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[CoyoteSpinner]

[quote Jordanporritt]I think I might have seen you out there, we were in a red bass tracker.[/quote]

Aha - I see the error of my ways. It's either my blurry eyes or fuzzy brain, I read this as "were you in a . . . "

NOW I get it, turn the tables. Short nights, long daze. At least the time change will help with that - um not! [crazy]

There's been talk of springs and man-eating holes in the ice there in the past. Seen a burbling hold midway across Hyrum before - wheeler tracks right next to the slush spot - go figure.

I gotta break out some seafoam and fresh gas!
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[Springbuck]

That was exactly my point. I would have guessed that, about oxygenation and temp, which I am always looking for during Ice season as well. So far, say ten years back, all my early trips to locate the springs and other spots have failed. My sonar is weak, and I have no GPS, etc.. TD even made a map, but no dice.

I usually start having great trips once the sun comes out and warms some shallow water, where the game is about being stealthy and dragging them out of tough cover.Then the spawn of course.
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[Jordanporritt]

Ahhh now I see where you were coming from!
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[CoyoteSpinner]

This has been posted before, don't know there's any "science" or "scientology" behind it. The whole notion of actual springs has been debatable, or debated at least.

Some weigh bubbles on the notion of Methane gas released by the plethora of greenery as it becomes less so (detritus for a fancy word). Late season ice, or ice off the process can be quite evident - as they might say behind the taco stand - shit stinks! (pardon my French, and if you're French - well, I'm just sorry)

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There will always be nay-sayers. Those that don't believe in Christmas trees in Willard anymore than they believe in the underwater ski course in Mantua, but I have my faith to fall back on.

I don't profess to know that lake like the back of my hand, but there is something of a trench down the middle, whether it's really deeper water-lake bottom, or just a result of weed-dredging is another debate. But finding the drop off/weed ledge has always proven a good location for taunting the little guys out of hiding. (Fly you schools!)

One of my all-time favorites was to tease the Willard bird-chasers by announcing Boils Are ON, but at Mantua, for bluegills. It was a hot-fall sunset bite that trip. Look in the background, uh - back-water maybe?

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