We get a mixture of reports out of Manzanita Lake. best fishing is in the AM

Manzanita Lake - CA (Madera County)


by The Fly Shop
6-26-2013
Website

Current Lake Conditions: Seems like the best reports come mid week. The best fishing happens in the morning hours. Fish either a nymph or a dry version of the midge. The rainbows and browns love the weedy edges and shade. Retrieving #16-20 Pheasant Tail Nymphs is a great plan! Use a floating line and a tapered leader. Expect to throw 6X tippet as we get into the weeks of June and early July.

Pay attention to the special regulations here, especially where you can and can't fish. Barbless hooks, artificial lures, catch and release. Make sure you inquire at the park entrance.

The Fly Shop's?? Tips: 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??.

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:

• Harrop's CDC Emerging Midge
• Hackle Winged May - Callibaetis
• Adams #14-18
• Last Chance Cripple Callibaetis, Baetis
• Mercer's Missing Link #14-16
• Mercer's Profile Dun Callibaetis

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Pheasant Tail Nymph - #16-18
• Black A.P. - #14-16
• 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