Manzanita Lake is a beautiful, small lake in Lassen National Park that is pretty well known for its great catch-and-release fly-fishing for rainbow and brown trout.
Anglers must use artificial lures or flies with single barbless hooks. A valid California fishing license is also required even though the lake is in a national park.
Manzanita Lake with Mount Lassen in the background from the north end of the lake. | Bruce Ajari
A recent Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers outing to this location proved to be a great experience. Many of the 20 club members in attendance had never fished this picturesque lake.
No motors are allowed on this lake, located at an elevation of 5,890 feet. Float tubes, pontoon boats, small rafts and drift boats are the norm, although shore fishing is great, as well.
Manzanita Lake Campground is located 1 mile east of the Manzanita Lake entrance. This popular campground, located next to the lake, is ideal for families. Campers can enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking and hiking. RVs and trailers are welcome or there are camping cabins available for rent. Other amenities include a camp store, coin-operated Laundromat and coin-operated showers. Visit lassenrecreation.com for more information.
On our trip, the best fishing seemed to occur around midday. We had plenty of wind each day, which made things difficult. The warmest it got was probably in the low 60s with a couple of days in the high 50s. Nighttime temperatures dipped into the high 30s, so it was pretty chilly.
As a result, the hatches of the Callibaetis mayfly that we were anticipating never came to fruition. A Black Caddis hatch occurred for a short time each day. The most dependable hatch seemed to be a few damselfly nymphs.
The number of anglers on the water also contributed to the slow fishing. There was plenty of pressure on the fish. These fish tend to be pretty well educated by the end of the season — they have seen just about every fly imaginable.
Given the slow fishing, everyone in our group still managed to catch at least one fish. Some caught more when the fish keyed on one of the insects for a short period of time each day. The fish caught averaged 14 to 16 inches. They were beautiful rainbow and brown trout.
Having been the first time at this lake for many of us, we were more than satisfied with the trip. The group site that we had in the campground was great and the facilities were excellent.
FISHING REPORT
Boca Reservoir| Inflow is at 118 cfs and the outflow is 113 cfs. Powerbait, nightcrawlers and lures are all working. Fly-fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet with nymphs, streamers and dries.
Donner Lake | Fishing has been fair to good. Kokanee fishing has been good although the fish are small. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the main bait. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishers are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | All tributaries are closed to all fishing from July 1 to Sept. 30. Fishing has been fair to good for mackinaw. A guide is highly recommended if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining and shore fishing is fair. Most shore anglers use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River | The flow is at 118 cfs. Be prepared to share the water with a lot of anglers. The river has been busy so far this season. With the water at this level, nymphs are your best bet. Hatches are similar to the main Truckee River.
Martis Lake | Zero kill. Catch and release only with barbless artificial lures or flies. Fishing is the best early in the season and again in the fall. Smallmouth bass are now part of the fishery here.
Prosser Reservoir| Fishing has been fair to good. Anglers using bait, lures and flies have all caught fish. Fly-fishers have done well near the inlet areas. Bass fishing has been fair.
Stampede Reservoir| Fishing has been fair to good from shore. The ramp is available to launch most boats. Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and lures have all produced from shore. Fly-fishers have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers. The Kokanee fishing has been fair to good for those getting out. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | The river is not flowing out of the lake at Tahoe City. The flows through Truckee are at 179 cfs. Great early season flows in the river. Fishing has been fairly good. Green Drake mayflies are making their appearance. Caddis imitations, PMD, Little Yellow Stones and streamers are also working. This is special regulation, artificial-only-with-barbless-hook water. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged, but an angler may keep two fish with a minimum size of 14 inches during the regular trout season.
Davis and Frenchman lakes | These lakes are in full swing. Boat, shore and fly anglers are catching fish. Reports from Davis are only fair. Damselflies are in full swing. Blood midge and Callibaetis imitations are also good. Frenchman fishing has been very well. Try the same hatches as in Davis.
Bruce is a long-time area fly-fisherman and past president of Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more.
