Upland Natural Lake · Mixed · Northern California

Manzanita Lake

Manzanita Lake venue image

A little jewel of a lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, sitting in clear water under Lassen Peak, and the kind of place that's worth the drive for the view alone.

Marginal · Rainbow
Callibaetis Nymph · 12-16
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
44% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindSW 13 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
CN
Callibaetis Nymph12-16
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
SW 13 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp22°C
CloudClear
Pressure1016 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Lassen NP — barbless catch-and-release only
  • Verify NPS/CDFW rules.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
52%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Butte Lake
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Hat Creek
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Lake Almanor
44 km
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Baum Lake
45 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Pit River
50 km
Rainbow trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A little jewel of a lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, sitting in clear water under Lassen Peak, and the kind of place that's worth the drive for the view alone. It holds wild rainbows and browns that have been caught and let go so many times they've practically earned degrees in fly recognition. It's strictly barbless catch-and-release, which is why the fishing stays this good. You work it from a tube with long, fine leaders and a quiet approach — Callibaetis and midges, sight-fished, on the calm mornings and evenings.

  • Lake
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • summer conditions with clear skies and breezy wind.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • TroutLate May → 1 November
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts