Mantua Reservoir

About Mantua Reservoir

Mantua Reservoir sits at the head of Box Elder Canyon, bordered on the north, west, and south sides by the small town of Mantua. Mantua has an interesting founding story. Danish immigrant Mormon pioneers, led by Hans Jens Jensen, settled the area in 1863, and the town’s name comes from Mantua, Ohio, carried west by those early settlers.

At 554 acres, Mantua is a modest-sized reservoir, but it’s a surprisingly productive one. Brigham City owns and operates the reservoir and surrounding land, and it’s open to public access year-round, including ice fishing in the winter.

Fish Species

Mantua holds a solid multi-species mix: Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Yellow Perch, and occasionally Tiger Trout. Recent DWR surveys found Bluegill to be by far the most abundant species by number, making up nearly 59% of the total catch. This is very much a panfish-rich environment.

     

Structure/Features

The deepest part of the reservoir sits near “the knoll,” northeast of the boat ramp. A key spot to know for both open-water and ice fishing, since it tends to hold fish when shallower areas cool off or warm up past comfortable range.

How to Fish

Trout

Shore anglers do well with dough bait or a worm fished off the bottom in shallow water. From a boat, troll small crankbaits or pop gear tipped with a worm through 10 to 15 feet of water.

Largemouth Bass

Bass here feed primarily on young Bluegill and Yellow Perch, so matching that forage works well. Cast spinnerbaits, tube jigs, twist-tail grubs, or crankbaits along the shoreline.

Bluegill & Sunfish

A simple worm under a bobber on a size 8 or 10 hook, fished near submerged brush or aquatic vegetation, is all you need. Given how abundant Bluegill are here, this is an easy, productive approach for a relaxed afternoon or a kid’s first trip.

When to Fish

As water cools in fall, trout move into shallower water while warmwater species like Bass and Bluegill shift deeper. It's worth adjusting your approach as the season turns. Mantua is also one of Utah’s better winter destinations: Yellow Perch here have recently been running 10 to 11 inches, exceptionaly good filleting size, and the deep water by the knoll is the place to start when the ice sets in.

Mantua ranks up there as one of the more productive and unique ice fisheries in the state. It is fantastic for Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Rainbows and provides plenty of access around the south side of the reservoir. This one stands out as an exceptional place to introduce young angles to ice fishing. What it lacks in size it makes up for in quantity.

Fishing Regulations

Check the current Utah Fishing Guidebook for current limits before your trip.

Final Thoughts

Mantua punches well above its size. A 554-acre reservoir that greatly rewards both trout and panfish anglers, with one of the better winter perch fisheries in northern Utah to boot.