12-21-2011, 08:17 PM
So it was "better" fishing when it was "harder" fishing - due to restrictions? Were the bluegills stunted back then?
So - how did perch "appear" in the lake? Did they come up from the underground springs?
[cool][#0000ff]There were no tent cities on Mantua a few years ago. People were not serious about finesse fishing with artificials to score a few bluegills. The bluegills were GOOD size...because all the big ones didn't leave the lake during a heavy onslaught.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In order to catch the bluegills you had to use tiny finesse plastics or small ice flies. And you had to hold the rod and pay very close attention. One quick tick and it was all over. No waxworm to keep them holding it in their mouth until you could set the hook. A good day on the ice might be a half dozen hefty bluegills...and maybe a trout or two. They were not planting the large numbers of trout then that they do now.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Then out of nowhere a few perch began showing up. "NOBODY" has any idea where they came from. But it freaked out DWR. They wanted them out of there. Yeah, right. So they reluctantly changed the regulations to allow the use of bait, so that people would fish for perch and hopefully keep them in check.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Angler harvest can have an impact on average sizes of fish...but it is almost impossible to completely fish out ANY lake...for ANY species. When it comes to bass, Mantua could stand a much greater harvest...of smaller fish. They are the most aggressive eaters. The larger they get the slower they grow...and the less they eat in proportion. Not only that but the bigger they get the less likely they will EVER be caught and removed. Their feeding habits change and their caution improves to the point that it is rare for them to get hooked. And if they do get hooked they usually dive into the weeds and it is impossible to haul them out on the light tackle most Mantuans use.[/#0000ff]
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So - how did perch "appear" in the lake? Did they come up from the underground springs?
[cool][#0000ff]There were no tent cities on Mantua a few years ago. People were not serious about finesse fishing with artificials to score a few bluegills. The bluegills were GOOD size...because all the big ones didn't leave the lake during a heavy onslaught.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In order to catch the bluegills you had to use tiny finesse plastics or small ice flies. And you had to hold the rod and pay very close attention. One quick tick and it was all over. No waxworm to keep them holding it in their mouth until you could set the hook. A good day on the ice might be a half dozen hefty bluegills...and maybe a trout or two. They were not planting the large numbers of trout then that they do now.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Then out of nowhere a few perch began showing up. "NOBODY" has any idea where they came from. But it freaked out DWR. They wanted them out of there. Yeah, right. So they reluctantly changed the regulations to allow the use of bait, so that people would fish for perch and hopefully keep them in check.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Angler harvest can have an impact on average sizes of fish...but it is almost impossible to completely fish out ANY lake...for ANY species. When it comes to bass, Mantua could stand a much greater harvest...of smaller fish. They are the most aggressive eaters. The larger they get the slower they grow...and the less they eat in proportion. Not only that but the bigger they get the less likely they will EVER be caught and removed. Their feeding habits change and their caution improves to the point that it is rare for them to get hooked. And if they do get hooked they usually dive into the weeds and it is impossible to haul them out on the light tackle most Mantuans use.[/#0000ff]
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