Hot Lake Manatee action (with pics)

[SteveGibson]

Despite reports that action would be slow, I headed out to Lake Manatee. I didn't care.

Much to my surprise fishing was good. The topwater bite was off, but subsurface was hot.

I'm amazed that many anglers in this neck of the woods pack it up and head home when the fish quit taking flies off the surfact. Well, I used to be that way, too.

Now, I just go subsurface.

My flies of choice are my Myakka Minnow and a rather mundane No. 12 bead-head nymph. Both work well. I fish them both with a strike indicator.

All fish today were taken on a 1-weight and 2-weight rod.

Lake Manatee just continues to amaze me. Very light fishing pressure, minimal boat traffic and great fishing.

This bass went about 3 pounds:



One of 50 bluegill:



This was one of 10 nice specks: