Thinking of heading up to Mantua on Tuesday weather permitting and wanted to see what might be the best place to put the tube in the water. Have launched boats but usually scoot across to the east side to try to the bluegills. Didn’t know if there was access on that side to put a tube in. That would be one heck of a trip across in a tube. Or if someone has a better spot to try in a tube. Would like to try for bluegill or bass, but still imagine it is a bit early.
I usually launch my tube at the ramp and then kick north along the dike until I come to the spillway in the dike. Then I find holes in the weedbeds in anywhere from 10’ to 18’ of water and vertical jig. The area straight out from the spillway and around that corner are usually productive.
It IS early. Bluegill and bass become a lot more active when the water is warm enough to get the weeds growing toward the top. But, you can catch them if you can find them. Deeper right now. Won’t be long until both bass and bluegills move in next to the shoreline in clear areas and become good targets for fly rodders…or kids fishing with bubbles.
If you don’t mind carrying your tube and gear a short ways up over the dike, you can park in the dirt parking area at the NW side of the lake. Not too hard to launch and good fishing a short kick out.
If you have a set of wheels for your tube, or if you can pack it on your back, you can park at the SE corner, by the inlet, and hike back in on the access road. The gate is closed to vehicles but open to foot access. A bit of a hike but you can fish the productive deep spots off the hill with less kicking. And, if that pesky west wind comes up you don’t have to kick all the way back in against the wind. Been there, done that.
One suggestion, if you haven’t tubed Mantua before…take a couple of marker buoys. When you find fish, mark the spot. It all looks the same out on the water but the fish often congregate in a small area. If you stay on the fish you will keep catching them. Move ten feet off the spot and you will just be washin’ worms.
Oh yeah…sonar helps too. Big time.