Get the Kids to Mantua

[Cowboypirate]

Seen multiple reports that the gills and perch were cruising the shoreline at Mantua and playing nice with the fishermen. Grabbed a few fellow cowboy-pirates and went to check it out. Just fished for a few hours this morning before the front blew in. It was red hot for "dinks" Bluegill using small jigs, tipped with a small piece of worm under a drifting bobber. A few yellow perch in the mix too. Only a couple big gills. One of our crew had a great time pulling a small nymph pattern in with impressive results - would have been fun with my light wt fly rod. There was a impressive midge hatch for about an hour this morning. The gills were dimpling the surface like Unitas brookies.

Also saw trout pulled in to boats and some more caught with powerbait on the shore.

2 reports from fishermen in the trees of some limited success with bass. Did not share what they were using.

Get your kids up there. It doesn't get much more kid friendly and fun than when the Mantua gills are cruising the rock dike..

Here is the video of the adventure

https://youtu.be/1zjspHiMjf0

Headed to the Gorge in the morning - will report on it
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for the report, I'm hearing news now, that is saying the gills have shut off, you must have got there while it was still hot. Hope they turn on again.
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[Cowboypirate]

It would not suprise me if they turned off with this whopper cold front pushing through. I have snow in the yard this morning. Got Thur off with one of my boys but not sure which direction to point the crew now. Was planning to go for large mouth at Mantua, might have to rethink that
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[wiperhunter2]

Trout are usually willing to play, no matter the conditions, where as warm water fish seem to shut down when cold fronts move in. I've noticed in the stocking reports, that they have been actively planting most of the local community ponds, in the last month. Those planter size bows are usually easy targets for youngsters looking for a tug on their line[].
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[Cowboypirate]

I should go back to Flaming Gorge and see if I can tease up them pup Lakers while my wife keeps embarrassing me with 5 lbs rainbows on powerbait. Got to be some way to catch up to her totals for 2019.
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[LLOMichalchik]

Good report.
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[hogstalker]

Was planning on going to Mantua thursday evening but don't want to waist my time.If anyone goes today or tomorrow morning an update would be great.Thanks.
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[hogstalker]

[quote hogstalker]Was planning on going to Mantua thursday evening but don't want to waste my time.If anyone goes today or tomorrow morning an update would be great.Thanks.[/quote][bob]
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[Cowboypirate]

Three Of us ended up there this morning. Will post an update with video tonight. It was hot for us and dead for others. The hot spots were in cover when the midges hatched. Out in the open around the rocks there were so many Grebes fishing ( the bird) that the gills stayed tight to under rocks and would not venture out. If I spooked them out with a stick the birds hammered them
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[AlexB]

How were the Pelicans? I was there Monday and I saw more pelicans than I've ever see there. Are they a problem?
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[Cowboypirate]

A few, but no problem with them. But those Greebs were a pain. We messed with a few jerk baits - they buzzed them a couple times
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