Barney_Boards_n_BlueGills

[CoyoteSpinner]

It's not short, it's not sweet, but it's my post all the same.

Hooked up with Jdawg183 and took a toodle around Mantua with the "new" ride. Bit late getting started (my bad - of course), sun over the horizon and skiers already on the water -dangit!!! Managed to launch the boat once I realized ALL the straps had to be removed. Motor was a little rough starting up, but she got purring. Needed a little bit of throttle to get going and keep the motor from dying.
WEEEEELL - that must have been TOO much for Barney - so I guess he's after us, sent a boat out to have us return (after getting halfway across the lake at less that lightning speed) so he could 'talk' to me. "Talk" turns into a 'citation' for making a wake in a wakeless. It's not "speed" it's whitewater. Um - you can be standing still and your props gonna make "whitewater". [pirate]
Due to bad gas, bad fuel pump, bad carbs, or something - we couldn't get up on plane if we WANTED to. Again - they must have a quota to fill.
But hey Lunker - today you could park ANYWHERE you wanted to, . . . long as you had a fancy trailer and expensive wakeboat this day! I can't tell your how many "not between the lines, into the grass - whatever" parking was "accepted". Take THAT to court as see what happens (let me guess - Barney is cousins with Judge Enus - and that's where it's at!)

Ok - so I'm the guy with the little fishing/ boat, and as he's telling me - we have to 'watch out' for the $40K wakeboard boats so they don't get bumped against the dock - um - there were no boats against the dock. [shocked]

"Proximity" he tells me - um, er - so where were ya when the boat of hispanics comes and parks not 10 feet (literally) from where we were anchored up to fish. I even said something to that crew, though I think it must have come across like a teacher on a telephone in a Peanuts cartoon. Aaah - they had more tattoos than me, so we just fished. Should have snapped a shot of 'em, I can almost guarantee there was at least one fly down, if not more! (Spanish fly - nyuck!) [:p]

And to think of ALL the times I've been blasted by big boats in my lil' flat bottom (so close I could reach'm with a trolling rod!), or seen boats soar into harbor at full-plane, ONLY to drop off inches before the dock. Where were ya THEN Barney! [mad][crazy][crazy][crazy][crazy][crazy]

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Ok - enuf politics, more fishn. Figured we'd find some bedding bass and gills in the shallows north of the Knoll, and we did. Lots of hit and missed under bobber. But then Jdawg hooks up - and it's a nice pretty bitty perch. We start pulling in some gills, some perch, even got some small-large-mouths to play. No trout on the day, so we left off with a 3-some. Jdawg being the master of the biggest Bull-Gill of the day, though for a time - I had the hot rod - and it was bite-bite-bite. I think downsizing from a big furry jig and recalling my ice-gear got me into some bites that weren't so easy to miss (yes - sometimes size does matter, and smaller can be better. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it!).

Sight fishing is just danged fun. No big toothy monsters - but being in shallows enough to see them come right up and take it, or dropping right onto their "nest-bed" just to piss 'em off. Lots of competition between them as the nesters fight off the pesters. Had a lot more Perch action than I'm used to on that water. Seemed like they were nesting up just like the gills-n-bass. Didn't see that last spring. Surprisingly not as much bass bedding as I'd expect. Time/Place - who knows.

Due to motoring limitations - we didn't get to the tubing adventures the kids had been promised (dangit!) But we did get both kids fishing - at least for a time, and floating, swimming - and they had fun with that (stay out of the weeds and the swimmerss itch!). Returned to harbor (few st-st-st-udders, and thanks to Jdawgs 'lectric backup - on to dock! Thanks bud! Need to have a backup plan 4 sure!)

Pulled out the "cane pole" for some shore tangling while the kids had another swim, during the closing of the Wakeboard demonstration. The race course was un-merged earlier (it exists). Announcers, blasting music and having quite an event, as the young-lings worked their way off the lake. They had some fun (their type). It's all good.

I managed to hook into a few more cooperative panfish (funny looks from a few - with this 20 ft cane pole, no reel - but it gets you over the weeds - and a simple worm n hook - all ya need is love). Caught fish into double digits over the day, selecting a handful for the fillet-board.
We got out- got on some sightfishing, fished with a new-friend, got the kids sunburned - coulda been better (and less expensive! Barneeeee!) - but it was the "voyage of the dawntreader" - so she's been wet, she's been - not so wild - but she didn't sink, and we got home safe. And of course no wake-board boats were harmed in the filming of events!!!

Maybe be calling on Newton in the morning.

Jdawg - thanks for joining us, thanks for your patience and support for a day on the water. Had fun, glad to do it - it'll be better "next time"! Nice company, got into some fish, great weather - what more could you ask for (less Barney intervention!!!).

[jdawg183]

Nice post Coyote. I would like to add more but I think you summed it up well. Think I am going to have to pick up some of those smaller hooks so I don't keep missing. I probably had 15 hits that I missed because they wouldn't swallow the dang hook. All in all it was a good trip. Had fun, good company, etc. Glad to see you got inti some more after I took off. Anyhow, here is a pic of the bigger gill. Thanks again Coyote. It was fun.
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[UThunting]

Where the he'll was barney when I was launching my boat and some a$$ was going round and round with his jet ski (at the boat ramp)and making waves big enough that when I was getting in my boat at the ramp it was making the boat go up and down enough that It made me slip off the boat and into the lake..... [pirate] (nice job barney)
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[BassHunter1]

Wow, quite the eventful day. Nice job. Couple things I'm wondering about though. For some reason I think the bass are done "nesting", maybe because the clouds and clouds and more clouds of bass fry all over the place. Also think the perch spawned back in march about right after the ice comes off(mid 40's). Bluegills will keep spawning all summer, probably already know that though. But what do I know with only less than 10posts on here. Guess I should make 2 posts a day then a short while I can be recognized as a pro.
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[gstott]

I'm pretty sure the bass are wrapping it up already. This warm spell drove the temps up quickly and the spawn came and went already for the most part. Kind of , it was so short lived this year, but I like summer pattern bass too.
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[sinergy]

Nice post Coyote I agree Barney can be POS at times he got me one year for parking along the dirt road on the SE side before there was the new parking areas.

But part me says with the amount of people flocking there now they need a police presence. A few years back I seen a couple of guys fill 2 Five gallon buckets full of fish keeping everything from the little 2 inch gills to the larger Bass. When I approached them and asked if they knew the limits I got the typical no speak English BS.

To be honest with you I wish they would turn the lake into a Wake less water crazy to see people with there wave runners and Skii boats on such a little lake.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Welp Jdawg - again thanks for joining our adventures and mishaps. Ya got a great positive outlook on the 'venture. We must have missed the bass-fry. Maybe more along the N. end - more submerged trees along there.

Forgot to mention that 'other' mishap - when my whole stringer went afloat, well - a sink! Glad we were shallow enough, and I was quick enough to retrieve! Of course the kids were begging for another swim at that point anyway....

Apologies - I meant to share my plano of Coyotecraft with ya. I will toss a few hookups your way. I do think I'll be using more of my ice-jigs for pan-fishing. Don't know what a Musky would do to one of THOSE small hooks!!!

First trip to Mantua this season - hadn't seen reports indicating the bass were on their beds - guess they came and went pretty quick. Ah well - it's been a crazy spring. So - time to look deeper for them then?

UThunting - THAT's the kind of thing I'm talking about! There's something about jetskis/ers. I was appalled at two guys, two pickups PARKED in the launch at Benson while they buzzed around. I arrived to load out, and they didn't seem "ready" to get the heck out of the way. Where's Gomer then?!

Basshunter1 - sounds like you've been atune to the comings and goings pretty good. I was surprised we didn't see the clouds of fry. Though we didn't move around as much as some party-members wanted.
Number of posts does NOT make one an "pro" - and I'm proof positive (was I just poked?). But I do try to learn more, and share what I've learned, help others when I can. Maybe once I surpass the 1000 post mark I'll clam up an get cryptic like some folks.

Sinergy: I agree - I've experienced some "shady" presence there on more than one occasion. Maybe more DNR checks needed. I was surprised when Barney told me there is no speed limit (used to be - see TDs old map for example).
I assume no - but anyone have any experience with the "court" system there? Any point in contesting? I highly doubt it - no warnings for a first time boater - and we're all there to fund the winter holiday account, right. It is a small lake, and the free-parking feature could be "adjusted", might help thin the herd. Some folks talk like the lake is dead - I don't have the experience of knowing it "way back when" to compare. But that's in part due to growth all over the state, not just one lake or another. If they build it . . . But it is a fertile lake, and that's to it's advantage.
Also agree - it's to see folks "take it all". I question even posting a "stringer shot" sometimes on here. But I will say - of the probably 30 fish we boated, I kept a handful of panfish with some size to 'em, and insisted Jdawg take his trophy. He's never tried Bluegill (that may no longer be true!). And with a 50 fish limit, I do NOT consider that over harvest. All said and done, I expect those will end up being some expensive fish (grrr).

I think a narrow lake like Newton is a much more hazardous environment - especially for the small boaters. But - glutton for punishment, might have to give it a go anyway.

[jdawg183]

While I do agree there needs to be some sort of enforcement there, Barney ain't. I honestly think the reason Coyote got in trouble was because his engine was a little louder than those $40k boats, so if it is loud, you MUST be going fast! He really wasnt going that fast. He was going about the same speed as my electric motor pushes my boat until right before he got to the buoys. Anyhow, that might be the time when an actual rent a cop would suffice and actually do a better job than tubby. Just pay the guy $10 an hour and tell him to watch out for obvious bad things, and it doesn't matter who they are or what they drive. Like Coyote said, those jet skiers do a lot worse things as well as the big boats. I can't tell you how many times I have seen boats get just barely off the dock and take off.
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[Fin-S-Fish]

Perch do not make beds, they scatter their eggs at random like carp. Males synchronize to release milt simultaneously. That must have happened in April sometime. These perch are just trying to eat bluegill eggs and fry. Bass are waaaay done with beds. Haven't seen any torn fins in a long time now. Of course us bassers are not likely to jump to the computer to post as soon as we see a bed hahaha[] It was actually a fairly extended long bass bedding season due to the cold weather this year. But for sure it's over. Summer time flats pattern now. Some bass will wander around and eat the small female bluegill off the bed perimeters too but it's so hot most have probably gone deeper.
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[biddaddy]

Hit Mantua today with my 10 year old son. We got into some very chunky BULL gills. We put them all back to grow even bigger but must have caught 20 each. HEALTHY fish and of course fight like tigers.
The big hit was the bitsy minnow and tiny spinners.
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[12inchlunker]

[fishon]
Great Post great info but at the end of all this. It's the same story. That Robo Bitch COP!!! Sorry I respect real police officers. Even helped train a few in my day. I have zero respect for that guy. He literally harasses people! There has got to be something that can be done or said!!! Enough is enough. When is the last time any of you got pulled over and then got a 20 to 30 min lecture on every single possible death or law you could have broken!!!!!!! Someone please open a Doughnut shop so that Officer Anus will be occupied.

Sorry for the anger.... a head of time on this post.
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[12inchlunker]

[mad]
One more thing!!!! Coyote you are way to nice. There is no way I would have drove a boat back because some random guy said BARNEY wanted to talk to me. If he wants to talk to you he can swim his own ass out there!!!! And I'm sure he would have waited for you to come back in and given you even a harder time. But I'm pretty sure legally....but could be wrong.....a cop can't ask others to do there job...

"HEY BUDDY! CAN YOU GO PULL OVER THAT GUY GOING UP THE CANYON WHILE I FINISH MY LECTURE TO THIS SINGLE MOTHER ABOUT GOING 6 OVER AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HER CAR JUMPING THE CANYON!!!!"

"AFTER THAT COULD YOU GO ROUND UP A FEW LOOSE CHICKENS FOR ME!!!!"
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[CoyoteSpinner]

I'd been wondering about exactly that thing!! The other boat was able to catch up easy - as the only "full throttle" in the boat that day was the one my boy was drinking.

Lund boat came up and said "the guy in the yellow shirt" wants to talk to you (flash: Curious George and the man in the yellow hat - who's the monkey??).
NOT identified as law-enforcement request. Pretty sure he knew which vehicle was ours. But he had no boat - so what else would happen?

Besides - he was wearing a grey shirt.

Should I start a poll? Who's the biggest buffoon:
1. Barney Fife
2. Roscoe P Coltrain
3. or Mantua's Barney the Robo Cop with a chip on his shoulder bigger than the Hunchback's hump!!

PS: Hope he doesn't read this forum. Or maybe I do!!

RE: Perch - I thought they were early ice-offers. That's what I'd suspected - opportunistic snatch-n-grab.
Why is it that bassers are so secretive? Not sure why that fish breeds that mentality, but it's your option, your choice. No criticism here - really. You're probably laughing at my bitty bass. Spending too much time chasing kitties this spring, have missed watching the bass-action. But I'll keep flipping some worms/grubs - see what I can get into. Perch are one I haven't done the book-studies on, more of the direct - in person - learning. Ice was fun!