The fishing is tough right now, but the fish are still hungry

Manzanita Lake - CA (Madera County)


by The Fly Shop
12-11-2011
Website

Current Lake Conditions:
Very Cold! The fishing is tough, but the dedicated Manzanita angler can find rainbows and browns cruising the shallow water looking for warmer temperatures and possibly a snack! Anglers will do best fishing small #18-22 black midge patterns under indictors or various beetle and ant patterns.

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