06-20-2011, 10:05 PM
06-20-2011, 10:46 PM
Hey bud - one way to find out for sure!
Before weeks up we'll be heading to try the new boat. Hyrum is closer, but Mantua more likely to produce. We'll letcha know. Wed+ is most likely by my schedule.
I'm thin'in a few warm days will get those Gills moving. Was reminded today of late-summer boils - THAT was some fun casts!
Before weeks up we'll be heading to try the new boat. Hyrum is closer, but Mantua more likely to produce. We'll letcha know. Wed+ is most likely by my schedule.
I'm thin'in a few warm days will get those Gills moving. Was reminded today of late-summer boils - THAT was some fun casts!
06-21-2011, 02:12 AM
Seen quite a few bluegill up real shallow last friday. They were hanging around the submerged trees.
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06-21-2011, 05:19 AM
Coyote, whaddaya think they are boiling on like that? I rarely get there in late smmer; May and October get me the most nice gills ('til ice season).
Is that jst them hitting mayflies or do they act like they're boiling on small fish?
Thanks......
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Is that jst them hitting mayflies or do they act like they're boiling on small fish?
Thanks......
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06-21-2011, 11:06 AM
[cool][#0000ff]Perch fry. Perch spawn early and the bluegill feast on the bitty bites.[/#0000ff]
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06-21-2011, 12:49 PM
+1 It was pretty good sized Bgills that were making it happen. Right at the drop-off of some of the weedbeds. TD said at the time that - like their big cousin Wipers and Stripers and such - schooling up the minnows, and scarfing them up.
Realized I needed to cast ACROSS the boil, then drag through, and it was hit-hit-hit every time. Might not fight like a wiper, but it was fun action. They were all around north of the outlet warning buoys. It'll be a while.
With the way this year is going - maybe "late" summer will come by - what - October?!?!?! [crazy]
To my knowing - the perch really don't seem to be very prevalent in them waters. Caught a few under ice, but hardly even scoped them on the camera.
Realized I needed to cast ACROSS the boil, then drag through, and it was hit-hit-hit every time. Might not fight like a wiper, but it was fun action. They were all around north of the outlet warning buoys. It'll be a while.
With the way this year is going - maybe "late" summer will come by - what - October?!?!?! [crazy]
To my knowing - the perch really don't seem to be very prevalent in them waters. Caught a few under ice, but hardly even scoped them on the camera.
06-21-2011, 12:51 PM
I'd say 90% of the fish I iced at mantua this last winter had small perch fry in their stomach. Even the perch we caught were full of them
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06-21-2011, 01:38 PM
[cool][#0000ff]A lot of the very small fishies that show up in the fish tummies during the winter are also baby bluegills. The gills spawn later and their fry grow more slowly so they provide chow for all the other species over a longer period of time. They are not much bigger than nickle-sized by ice fishing time. Jigging a small spoon can be very effective on big perch in the winter...big trout too. This time of year you can fish a small silver or gold "fry fly" and catch some BIG bluegills.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That little lake is really a good example of a system in which all the fish are dependent upon the other species (and their own) to provide food during a large part of the year. Plenty of invertebrates but the real protein comes from little finny critters.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Of course the bass enjoy that bountiful harvest too. They are able to dine royally on silly little bluegills and can really put on some girth. They get to be like footballs. Only problem is that when you hook a big one you need to have tackle capable of hauling in a bale of hay. The big bass often dive into the thickest weeds and it can be nasty trying to get them out. They sometimes come in wearing a faceful of greenery.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That little lake is really a good example of a system in which all the fish are dependent upon the other species (and their own) to provide food during a large part of the year. Plenty of invertebrates but the real protein comes from little finny critters.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Of course the bass enjoy that bountiful harvest too. They are able to dine royally on silly little bluegills and can really put on some girth. They get to be like footballs. Only problem is that when you hook a big one you need to have tackle capable of hauling in a bale of hay. The big bass often dive into the thickest weeds and it can be nasty trying to get them out. They sometimes come in wearing a faceful of greenery.[/#0000ff]
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