Fished Lake Manatee on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Arrived at the ramp at about 7 a.m. Lake was calm. Put the kayak in the water and paddled down the lake in the fog.

Using a 2-weight rod and No. 10 popper, I picked up a hand-sized bluegill right off the bat. Action slowed and I managed about 20 bluegill and six golden shiners on poppers and No. 12 nymphs.

On the paddle back, I stopped a spot near the S.R. 64 bridge and added six more bluegill, plus a fine speckled perch (black crappie) -- all on No. 12 nymph.

Lake Manatee is located 9 miles east of Interstate 75 off S.R. 64 in Manatee County, FL It's one of my favorite lakes to fish and gets very little pressure.

On an average day, I'll see maybe one or two other boats.

Fishing will pick up as the weather warms. One-hundred fish days are common.