The Callibaetis hatch is on at Manzanita Lake and the 'bows & browns are on the feed

Manzanita Lake - CA (Madera County)


by The Fly Shop
6-6-2012
Website

Manzanita Lake is popular with fly fishermen, maintains a catch-and-release policy, and non-motorized boating is permitted.

Current Lake Conditions: Fishing fun! The bite has warmed up with rainbows starting to key on the newly evolving Callibaetis hatches. Bring some beetle and ant patterns! These fish are coy, but hungry.

The Fly Shop's ? Tips: Callibaetis are starting to come off the lake! The rainbows and browns eat the emerging nymph at all depths. Try a #14 non-beaded Pheasant Tail Nymph slowly retrieved on a floating line, or RIO's Aqualux Intermediate Sink Line.

Taper your leaders to 5x or 6x. 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. Use a thermometer to find that 55-65 ?

Lake Fact: Lassen Nat'l park is a living museum of vulcanism. But you won't find Spock hanging here giving out nerve pinches. The Volcano, known as Lassen Peak, is the centerpiece of the park, standing at 10, 456'. Last erupted in a series of events dated from 1914-1917. The most powerful occurred May 22nd, 1915 raining volcanic ash up to 200 miles away. May you live well and prosper.

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:

• Scum Dun - Callibaetis #14
• Quill Body - Trico #22
• Elk Hair Caddis - #14-16
• D&D Cripple - Callibaetis #16
• Carpenter Ant - #12
• Foam Beetles

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

Streamers/Leeches:
• Beaded Micro Bugger - Black
• Zonkers - #4
• Zack's Zugger - Yellow/Brown

Fly Fishing Gear:
• Outcast ? Super Fat Cat-LCS Float Tube
• Scientific Anglers™ Wet Tip Clear Fly Line
• Whizz Lube
• Simms ? WaderWick™
• TFS H2O & L2a Rod/Reel/Line