05-26-2006, 05:00 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Welcome aboard. Congrats on the bass catchin' last week. That is a great little lake for shore fishing, if you can find a spot not choked by the weeds.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Mantua does have a few smallmouth, but the largemouths are much more common. No need to worry about hurting the lake if people keep a few. Actually, there are probably too many bass in there. Well, not really, as long as the bluegill and perch population stays as hefty as it is. Lots of food.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Catch and release is always a matter of personal choice. There is no doubt that selective harvest will keep a lake healthier, but Mantua can definitely stand some thinning on the smaller bass. It is probably better to release the larger spawners, to keep the big fish gene pool healthy. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is unrealistic to expect that any fishery in Utah will ever be 100% C&R. First of all, there is no water that is in sufficient danger of overharvest to warrant it. Second, the cooler crowd would riot on the steps of the state building. Too many folks that believe they have to take home fish to justify the money they spend on a license. DWR has done a pretty good job of putting in slot limits where some regulation is necessary and it seems to be working for the most part.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I'm with you on the perch. Better eating than bass. If you can bag a limit of 50 perch, and make it through the filleting process, you really have some fine eating.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Mantua does have a few smallmouth, but the largemouths are much more common. No need to worry about hurting the lake if people keep a few. Actually, there are probably too many bass in there. Well, not really, as long as the bluegill and perch population stays as hefty as it is. Lots of food.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Catch and release is always a matter of personal choice. There is no doubt that selective harvest will keep a lake healthier, but Mantua can definitely stand some thinning on the smaller bass. It is probably better to release the larger spawners, to keep the big fish gene pool healthy. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is unrealistic to expect that any fishery in Utah will ever be 100% C&R. First of all, there is no water that is in sufficient danger of overharvest to warrant it. Second, the cooler crowd would riot on the steps of the state building. Too many folks that believe they have to take home fish to justify the money they spend on a license. DWR has done a pretty good job of putting in slot limits where some regulation is necessary and it seems to be working for the most part.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I'm with you on the perch. Better eating than bass. If you can bag a limit of 50 perch, and make it through the filleting process, you really have some fine eating.[/#0000ff]
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