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.
Good drifting conditions on Manzanita Lake
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
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.
50% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
18°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1018 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
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.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
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.
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.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Manzanita Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedManzanita Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Manzanita Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Manzanita Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutLate May → 1 November
Manzanita Lake · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Lassen NP — barbless catch-and-release only
- Verify NPS/CDFW rules.
Manzanita Lake
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.
Species
Good drifting conditions on Manzanita Lake
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
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.
50% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
W 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
18°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1018 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
86%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Manzanita Lake — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
How to fish it · for brown trout
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.
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.
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.
Why this score
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Lassen NP — barbless catch-and-release only
- Verify NPS/CDFW rules.
Directions
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
Seasons & zones
- TroutLate May → 1 November
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Fishing better nearby · 5