Mantua (stillwater) Swap

[LBM]

Trout4X says the ice is about to come off so we need a swap to get ready. I'm going to host a "Mantua Swap". The swap is open to 15 stillwater specialists. Send in your favorite Mantua fly or your favorite stillwater fly for you folks who don't fish Mantua. Flies need to be mailed to me NLT 10 Mar. First 15 tiers who sign up are in. Post a note to sign-up, but also send me an e-mail (larry.mangum@hill.af.mil) and I'll track your status via e-mail. When the swap is full, I'll e-mail the swappers with further instructions. Come on you guys that had all those 50+ days last summer. Sign up and share your secret patterns.

Larry

I'll tie Denny RIckard's "Calibateis Nymph"

[kingfisher]

I'll tie a Tokaruk Special. A good fly for ice out.

[steelie]

A "stillwater specialist" I am not, but count me in any way. It'll take me afew days to decide what to tie.

Steelie

[Jason]

I'm in with an Olive CBS Leech, which has been by far my best Mantua pattern.

[cheech]

I'll have to tie the CBS Leech. I would tie the Willey, but he is about swapped out.

Cheech

[Strike II]

Count me in. It's been a while since I have participated in a swap. I will tie a minnow that doesn't really have a name but produced very well for me at Mantua last year.

[hookem_cookem]

I would like to join, but I don't know what to tie yet. I will let you know by wednesday.

[MWSpearo]

I"ll let you know what I'm going to tie.

[Dennis]

Gosh, I didn't know anybody knew of the Tokaruk Special. That's a great pattern. Gets it's name from one of our favorite Brown Trout lakes in Canada. GOOD CHOICE. Cheech took my other favorite for Mantua. I guess I'll go with the Black/red Seal bugger. I've got lots of seal and that one has worked well for me there also.

[Spooled]

I will tie a chromonid pattern or something else to fish under a strike indacator.

Jerald Olsen at Muskie45@msn.com

[stout_trout]

I haven't swapped in several years... and I have only fished Mantua a few times....

But I can see that this swap is filling up fast and I don't want to miss out.

I will let you know what I will tie, but I'm thinking of a still water scud of some sort... Are there good numbers of scuds in Mantua?

[Fred]

I'll join this one. I need to think about what to tie a little bit more.

Need Crosby to tie his leather leech. Common Crosby!

[MWSpearo]

Do you care if the fly is targeting bass or trout?

[hookem_cookem]

I will tie a mini brown leech.

[normac]

if it isn't full count me in. I will have to think about what to tie though.

[Trout4x]

I am in.

I will not guarantee the pattern I submit. I will come up with a pattern.


Trout4x

[Teewinot]

I'm in but I don't think I'll be tying anything real fancy, just something that works. I'll let you know later.

[fishnhike]

This will be my first swap. I will tie a Grizzley Olive Wooly if you still have room?

[LBM]

Looks like we've got 15 swappers. Thanks for the interest. Here are the folks who have signed up:
Kingfisher
LBM
Steelie
Jason
Normac
Cheech
Trout4X
Hookem_Cookem
Strike II
MWSpearo
Dennis
Spooled
Fred
Teewinot
Fish N Hike


I'll have a full set of instructions to the swappers in the next few days. Thanks for the interest.


Larry

[Fred]

I'm going to tie Rickards' all-purpose emerger.

Stout_Trout, if you're still not sure, tie that olive stillwater scud you showed me.

[LBM]

Oops, I just realized I left Stout_Trout off the list. Unless someday objects, we'll expand the swap to 16 and include Stout. Here is the revised list of swappers:

Kingfisher
LBM
Steelie
Jason
Normac
Cheech
Trout4X
Hookem_Cookem
Strike II
MWSpearo
Dennis
Spooled
Fred
Teewinot
Fish N Hike
Stout_Trout


Larry

[stout_trout]

Thanks for letting me play.

I guess I will tie the scud that Fred mentioned... Ofcourse Fred, I will have to tye you something different... maybe one in hot pink.

[Trout4x]

The more the better.

[LIV2FSH]

Bruce

[Trout4x]

You won't regret letting LIV2FSH in. I would support it.
LIV2FSH is one of the best.

[steelie]

I'm going with a streamer - a Lite-Bright Clouser.

[Fred]

Has anyone received the plan on this swap?

Can't wait to see the hot pink stillwater scud. Bet the rest of you are Green with envy.

[Teewinot]

No -- I don't think that LBM has sent anything out yet.

As far as it's been posted I'd plan on tying up 15 flies and have them sent in by March 10th

[Trout4x]

Nothing here yet, just keep tying.

[normac]

I will be tying a wolly bugger pattern that I call the NWE. Although it doesn't look like much, it is one of my go to flies during fall and right after ice off.

[LBM]

Hi guys, sorry I'm late getting info out. I'm stuck in Dayton Ohio, but will be home this weekend. Here are the rules of enagement
1. Please mail your flies to me NLT 10 March 2003. The mailing address is:
Larry Mangum
2528 N 4350 W
Plain City, UT 84404
2. Please place a label on each of your flies and send your flies in a crushproof container. The flies you get returned to you will be returned in the same container so it doesn’t hurt to send them in a container big enough to hold flies bigger than the ones you send.
3. Please include a return, self-addressed stamped envelope or enough cash or a check to cover postage and a mailing container. Don’t put metered postage on your return envelope. The post office may not ship it if its not metered on the same day it’s shipped. If you include a self-addressed envelop make sure its stamped and not metered.
4. There are 16 participants so you’ll need to send me at least 15 flies. Please e-mail me a pattern recipe, tying instructions, fishing tips and/or other stuff about your fly you’d like to share with the rest of the swappers.
5. As long as everyone gets me their flies on time, you’ll get your set back by the 15th of Mar. Please send the flies as soon as you’re done. If something comes up and you can’t meet the 10 Mar suspense, keep me informed.
6. Any questions send me an e-mail (larry.magnum@hill.af.mil)



I'll put together an updated list and get it sent out when I get home.


Larry

[Trout4x]

I hope you are having a great time in Ohio. Thanks for the information etc.


Trout4x

[Fred]

What do you guys use for labels and containers?

[Trout4x]

I just print a small strip of paper. Works great LIV2FISH goes way out on a limb and has an impressive business card style with a magnetic back.

Containers range from an altoid tin to a fly box, even a small Tupperware container. The key is to remember you may get 14 flies that are larger than what you have sent.

[LIV2FSH]

Don't look like I made the deadline:(

Maybe next time?

Later, Bruce.

[Trout4x]

It is their loss, I tried. Glad to have you in the not for the faint of heart swap!

[Spooled]

The next thing we need to do is get some open water to go try them in.

Later, Jerald (Spooled)

[Trout4x]

Mailed flies today!

[Dennis]

My Flies went out today. 16 right?

[steelie]

one more quick dip in the softex, and mine are out the door......

[Trout4x]

I heard that line before, that means another 2 1/2 weeks. I will keep on him. LOL

[hookem_cookem]

my flies will be put in the mail on monday.

[Strike II]

Flies are done, I will get them in the mail this week. I have to wait til I can get my printer working to place the lables on the flies.

Can't wait until the ice comes off, but it looks like it will be longer than anticipated....... I doubt anyone will need a receipe for mine it's fairly self explanatory, I tied a minnow instead of the leech, because it works better for the bass up there. It has a barbell head up front.

Can't wait to see the rest of them......

[normac]

Was it 15 or 16 flies that we needed to tie? There is only 16 in the swap right? so wouldn't that mean 15 flies?

[fishnhike]

Larry,
Mailed the flies yesterday. If I did not include enough money for postage to return let me know. Can't wait to hit the water.

[Fred]

Larry,

did you get mine?

[Ed Gabriel]

Last July (my first trip there) I was at Mantua fishing damsels & saw two guys in a boat stillfishing something on fly rods and hauling trout in so fast I finally asked their secret - they gave me a huge bead head nymph on a scud type hook that I still have. I'll tie it. The other part of the secret was to find the deepest holes and fish near the bottom.

[LBM]

Hi guys, the date to have your flies shipped is 10 May. So far, I've received 5 sets. If anyone is having problems or doesn't think they can make the 10 May suspense, please let me know.



Larry

[steelie]

I've been procrastinating, but I'll have em in the mail soon......

[cheech]

Mine are sitting at home right now. I'll send them in pronto. Seeing that I'm running out of time and everything;) Is the deadline May 10, or March 10??

[Jason]

IT should be March 10th.

[LBM]

Sorry, thanks for the catch Cheech. Deadline is MARCH 10.

[normac]

dropped my flies off at the post office today.

LBM how many flies have you recieved so far?

[LBM]

NORMAC, thanks for sending them early. Yours will be the seventh of 16 sets so we're about half way home. I've heard from most of the other swappers. Doesn't appear to be an issue getting them in the mail by the 10 March deadline. Thanks again for sending your set in early.



Larry

[Strike II]

I just got back from mailing mine. I can't wait til' we get them back.

[steelie]

Flies are all done, will be in the mail soon.

[LBM]

Its about time to wrap up the Mantua Swap. From the sounds of things, its just in time. Looks like Ice Out is here. Here are the folks I've got flies from so far:

1. Stout_Trout - Stillwater Scud

2. Strike – Barbell Minnow

3. NORMAC – NEW

4. Kingfisher – Tokurak Special

5. FishNHike – Grizzly/Olive Bugger

6. Fred – AP Emerger

7. Trout4X – Bead Headed Red Butt

8. Dennis – Seal Bugger

9. LBM – Callibaetis Nymph

I've heard from Teewinot (congrats on being a new daddy). His are in the mail. I'll contact the rest of the folks in the swap via e-mail for a current status.


Larry

[cheech]

Mailed mine yesterday. CBS leech.

[LBM]

Today is the cut-off for mailing your flies. Congratulations, you all made it! I heard from the last two swappers over the weekend and should have their flies in a day or two. The rest of them are sitting on my tying table. I'll pack them up and have them mailed back to you by this weekend. Thanks again for meeting the deadline. Swapmaster is a piece of cake when everybody gets their bugs in on time. Great looking patterns and they're just in time for ice out.


Larry

[Strike II]

Thanks Larry for being the host of a great Swap. I can't wait to see the flies. I guess the ice is completly off mantua with the mild weather, so I will have to try them out.

[Trout4x]

I am with everyone else, can't wait. Larry I also agree swaps run smooth when all flies are mailed on time.


I will be heading to Mantua very soon!

[Jason]

Sorry for the procastination. My flies went out today. You should get them shortly. I'm stoked to see the flies and try them out this year.

[LBM]

Hi guys, dropped everyone's flies off at the Post Office this morning. You should see them in a day or two. We had one person drop out, so you each got one of your own flies sent back to you. Thanks again for being responsive and meeting the deadline. With responsive tiers, the swapmaster's job is a piece of cake. I'm not planning on publishing a consolidated list of recipes. Each fly is marked. If you need the recipe, please contact the tier directily.



Larry

[Fred]

Sweet flies. All of them. I really like the CBS Leeches.

Thanks!

[cheech]

Very easy to tie, and very deadly.

[Trout4x]

Received mine as well. Thanks to all!

Trout4x

[hookem_cookem]

Got mine too. Can't wait to use them.

[Teewinot]

Great swap. Guess I better plan another trip to Mantua.

Thanks Larry for the great job.

[kingfisher]

sweet flies!! Steelie and Strike, do you have any tips for fishing the lead eyed streamers you tied? What kind of line and retrieve work best for those patterns?

[Strike II]

This pattern works better for me on the bass than the trout. What I do, is stay right at the bottom and either barely troll with small 3 inch strips every 10 sec. or so. Or I fish it really really fast strips or trolling. Works really well. These are really easy to tie as well. You can very easily tie this 3 min.

[steelie]

Great flies everyone - can't wait to use them....

kingfisher - I tie it up in two basic versions, real heavy for bass and rivers, lighter for stillwater trout. I had a lot of the big eyes hangin around, so you got the bass version (although I've caught plenty of trout on the big one too). If you really want to target trout, tie it up with smaller barbells and a smaller hook, maybe a little thinner. I think that heavier one just has too much action for trout under most circumstances. Seems to work best with a quick strip and a long pause, I've had success throughout the water column. its been a life saver when the ponds turnover in the fall and nothing else seems to work - works real good in the spring too......

[Trout4x]

One question about the big eyes what kind of damage has this done to the finish on a rod, your glasses etc.

[cthomas]

Has anyone been fishing Mantua the last few days. I drove past it twice to go to the outdoor show this weekend and I get the jitters everytime I get near it. I need to go out and row my pontoon boat around soon. What are they taking if anyone wouldn't mind telling me. Anyone want to hook up and fish it?

Chris

[cheech]

CBS leech, Mike's Damsel, Olive Willey, Canadian Black leech.

Good Luck.

[steelie]

T4X, alot of damage! keep your ears tucked it.......