This is a great time to go fly fishing at Manzanita Lake

Manzanita Lake - CA (Madera County)


by The Fly Shop
11-2-2011
Website

Current Lake Conditions:
Anglers have been finding rainbows and browns cruising the edges of the lake, looking for the last meal of the season as old-man winters reach is closing in. Manzanita Lake is a gorgeous location to cast a fly at this time of year! Bring some beetle patterns, ant patterns and enjoy walking the bank and spotting a few fish. Anglers fishing midge patterns are doing best! Suspending small #18-20 Zebra Midges, Frostbites, WD-40s under an indicator has been the best technique.

Expect the best bite from 10:00 AM through late afternoon! Conditions are beautiful. The fall season is evidenced by warm foliage colors, crisp air and a cobalt sky. But, keep in mind a weather system is approaching this week (Thursday-Sunday), and it's going to be cold up here! Snow for sure!

The Fly Shop's ? Tips:
Using a float tube or a pontoon boat, paddle out into the lake and look along the edges for cruising rainbows and browns. RIOs Aqualux Intermediate Sink Tip is a perfect line for retrieving and stripping Pheasant tail nymphs and Callibeeotis. Use a floating line and leader tapered to 6x with a bead head PT with a very, very, very slow retrieve. Fish will find your nymph and take it, but don't set the hook! Just lift and let line out until you can bend the rod without first breaking the fish off.

Flies:

Dries:

• Scum Dun Callibaetis #14
• Quill Body Trico #22
• Elk Hair Caddis #14-16
• D&D Cripple Callibaetis #16
• Carpenter Ant
• Foam Beetle

Nymphs/Wet Flies: • CB Frostbite #18
• Hogan's S&M Olive #16-18
• Zebra Midge Black #18-20
• Mercer's Gidget

Streamers/Leeches:
• Beaded Micro Bugger Black
• Zonkers
• Zack's Zugger Yellow/Brown