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Hey guys,
I was just looking at the 2018 fish stocking reports and was looking at mantua reservoir and noticed just how many channel cats they stocked in that lake last year. I knew that they had put them in, but didn't realize just how many (approximately 120,000). In addition, I noticed that the put 321 channel cats that AVERAGE 29.99" in there. Could this be correct or do you think that it's a typo? If so then wow! That's quite a few huge predators for that small lake it seems.
It will be interesting to see how this develops this year and if channel cats become a common catch. I guess I'll have to start hitting it in May and see how I do.
Mike
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Someone posted about the big cats when they were planted but my memory must be bad because I was thinking it was thirty-some. And this is the first I have heard about the little guys. There must be nearly ten species in that little lake now. I doubt that they will make much impact on the prey fish. Diversity is good, right? It will take a number of years for those little ones to grow big enough to be significant in creel counts.
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I heard they had put some big fish in there, but didn't realize they were that big... That could get to be one heck of a fun pond with fish like that available.. I still haven't heard of anyone catching a channel cat out of there yet, probably be a little tough to figure out how to fish it with all the weeds... Like you say though, May could be really fun up there with the bass and cats going good at the same time... Could be a fun toon trip... Thanks Mike for reminding us... Later J
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[#0000FF]I don't recall the exact numbers or sizes either. So I just fired off an inquiry to Chris Penne of DWR. Will post his reply when I get it.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]It will be interesting to see how well the cats do in Mantua...and how big they get...and how fast. There should be plenty for them to eat.
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[#800000][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]Pat,[/size][/font][/#800000]
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[#800000][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]It would also be interesting to find out what the overall management policy is for Mantua. What was the objective in planting channel cats in there? How will they impact the current diversity already in there?[/size][/font][/#800000]
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[#800000][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]And according the the DWR, the six (6) species already present in there are:[/size][/font][/#800000]
Likely catch: Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout
Possible catch: Smallmouth Bass, Green Sunfish
[#800000][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]The channel catfish stocked last year would bring the total species count to seven (7). IMHO, that is a LOT for such a small body of water.[/size][/font][/#800000]
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All they need now are some redears to eat all those &%$* snails, and some walleye to eat everything else!
Just joking.
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[#800000][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]"The channel catfish stocked last year would bring the total species count to seven (7). IMHO, that is a LOT for such a small body of water."[/size][/font][/#800000]
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[#800000][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][font "Arial"][#0000FF]Maybe. I think the hope is that they will occupy a separate niche in the ecosystem...and perhaps provide another fishery that would appeal to more anglers. As always, it will either work or it won't.[/#0000FF][/font][/size][/font][/#800000]
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[#800000][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][font "Arial"][#0000FF]While living in California I was able to observe several new small lakes being developed on seasonal creeks. The ongoing concern was "balance". There could be several species even in a small water...as long as each species stayed within its intended domain and maintained its intended food preferences. But there can always be stupid fish that think they know more than the ex-spurts and mess up the balance.[/#0000FF][/font]
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[#0000ff]I dearly love redears. Got to enjoy them while living in Arizona. They do not school as much as bluegill but they grow a lot bigger...on average...and they are holy terrors on light tackle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But from what I know of that species, they might not do well in most of our cold climate waters. They are a fish of the deep south. However, they have been under consideration for putting into Lake Powell to help reduce the invasive mussels. They could never eradicate them but they would eat a bunch...and grow big. Redears from lakes along the lower Colorado River exceed 5 pounds. Yeee hawww.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Walleyes? They would definitely chew on some of the runts in Mantua. But again, it might not be the most hospitable pond. Still, there have always been a few walleye in Holmes Creek and some other spots you would not expect to find them. Nature will find a way.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]While we are at it, let's toss in some flathead cats and maybe a few alligator gars...or even real alligators. The latter might reduce the number of power squadron doofii that think Mantua is a water ski lake. I love the sound of water skiers screaming in the morning.
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"It was about 300 fish. They averaged about 8 pounds each. These were fish from our catfish production operation down at Wahweap that had grown too big to use the spawning cavities at the hatchery."
[#0000FF]The above was the reply from Chris at DWR. As for length, based upon my records of length vs weight I would place them at 25 to 28 inches...depending on girth.[/#0000FF]
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"But there can always be stupid fish that think they know more than the ex-spurts and mess up the balance."
Don't tell me this I have trouble dealing with stupid people. I can't handle stupid fish too !!![cool]
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I was told by a Fountain Green Hatchery employee that all of the Channel Cat / bullhead hybrids were put in Mantua. They were produced at Fountain Green Hatchery.
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"Yes, it received about 40,000 three- to four-inch fingerlings as well. As you're probably already aware, catfish generally compliment and coexist well with bass and bluegill fish communities, so we were kind of scratching our heads why they weren't in there already from historical management of the reservoir. We felt they would add a new opportunity at Mantua, and would be particularly beneficial for shore anglers during the summer months.
Chris
[#0000FF]Got this additional info after I replied to his first response...asking about the smaller cat plants and DWR's plans for catfish in Mantua.[/#0000FF]
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[quote mme1]"But there can always be stupid fish that think they know more than the ex-spurts and mess up the balance."
Don't tell me this I have trouble dealing with stupid people. I can't handle stupid fish too !!![cool][/quote]
[#0000FF]As Ron White...one of my fave comedians says..."Ya can't fix stupid". I'm guessing that applies to fish as well as humans. The main difference is that stupid fish usually don't get large enough to pass on the stupid genes.[/#0000FF]
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I also think redears would fail to survive this far north. There is evidence that bluegills are eating quaggas in Powell - and growing huge in the process. Bluegill aren't nearly as focussed on small shellfish as redears are, which makes me think that readears - also known as shellcrackers - would think they were in heaven if they were put into Powell.
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I had also seen some info indicating the bluegill at Powell might "like" the new mussels. Do you know if the bluegill are doing will in the whole lake or just certain areas?
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This is all pretty exciting. I can't wait for them to grow a little and have that as another option while fishing there. Thanks Pat for asking Chris about it and passing along the info.
Mike
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Will have to give Mantua a try next month. But I agree with TD and most other anglers, that "lake" is too small for all the power squadron traffic it gets. Wish they would make it a NO WAKE water body like Lost Creek.
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[#0000FF]Now that's just silly. How you gonna get someone up on water skis at wakeless speed?
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Thank you Pat for looking into this.
Gives me another venue to hit this summer. I think it's still a little cold up on the hill right now.
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Code: [b][#0000ff]How you gonna get someone up on water skis at wakeless speed? [/#0000ff][/b]
[#00bf00]Really big skis the size of paddle boards would work I think??? Later J [/#00bf00]
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