Really COLD. Whoa! Fishing at Manzanita Lake will be fair at best.

Manzanita Lake - CA (Madera County)


by The Fly Shop
1-7-2012
Website

Current Lake Conditions:
The rainbows and browns of Manzanita Lake go into a state of torpor in the winter months. There are always exceptions though! We think there are fish in the lake that remain active, feeding along the edges of the lake, cruising the shallower, warmer water. Expect the best chances when the days are sunny. Expect to contend with ice along the edges of the lake.

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