Manzanita Lake Fish Out Camp Out

Join us at Beautiful Manzanita Lake on Thursday May 29 thru Sunday June 1st.
Accommodations right on Manzanita Lake: www.lassenlodging.com
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233257
Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins - Starting at $76/night
Camping Cabins are within walking distance of Manzanita Lake.
These 20 cabins are the first new accommodations in Lassen Volcanic National Park since 1972, and are available in three models: 2 Room, 1 Room, and Bunkhouse
The cabins are located one mile south of the park entrance, perched at an elevation of 5,890 feet and adjacent to the 179-site campground. The Loomis Museum, Loomis Ranger Station and popular hiking trails are nearby.
Groceries, supplies, gifts, gasoline, a pay phone, ATM, laundromat and hot showers can be located at the nearby Manzanita Lake Camper Store. Our cafe features a variety of delicious and healthy items including salads, fresh fruits, hot or cold sandwiches, espresso drinks and soft-serve ice cream. The cafe had not opened yet at last years event but the shop was operating.
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234039
Manzanita Lake Campground - Starting at $26/night

PRO TIP: Availability to make reservations at the campground or the camping cabins opens up exactly 6 months in advance. So you can make reservations at the above links starting on NOVEMBER 29. You are allowed to book 2 or 3 days in a row. For instance, if you book on November 29 you are allowed to book from May 29 to February 1.

Park Details:
Lassen Volcanic is a National Park and requires an entrance fee for vehicles. It went up last year to $30 but the pass is valid for 7 consecutive days within the park. Manzanita Lake and campground are adjacent to the Northwest Entrance to the park approx. 45 minutes east of Anderson, Ca
If you are over 62 you can get a Senior Lifetime Pass for $80.00 and its good at all National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands. They sell them at the entrance gate.

Lake Details:
Manzanita lake holds a fair number of rainbow and brown trout and is rated as a blue ribbon fly fishery by the state of California Department of Fish and Game. It is managed as a catch and release fishery with only single barbless hooks allowed. No bait such as worms, salmon eggs or powerbait may be used. You can expect to find Rainbows, Large Browns and some cutthroat. There is a convenient launch area you can drive to for larger craft but those with Float tubes can walk to the lake from the campground as it is less than 200 yards away.
Some type of craft is mandatory to fish Manzanita lake as most of the shoreline is closely lined with brush and Ponderosa pines and not very conducive to casting. There is some shoreline that is also off limits to foot traffic all together. For those that want to check out other venues nearby, Hat Creek is only 30 minutes away and the Pit River is 45 minutes away. Baum Lake is another popular destination and is 36 minutes away.

How to Fish and recommended flies:
The nice thing about this lake is you can fish it your favorite way depending on conditions. Slow trolling Balanced Damsels on an intermediate line works great, if there is a bit of chop on the water midges and chironomids under an indicator can be a killer combination. An exciting treat is there can be hatches on the lake and the fish can be eager to take a properly presented dry especially in the early evening. A favorite mid-summer treat is right at sunset where they will often hit with reckless abandon on any aggressively stripped streamer. If there is a breeze look for big ants to be ‘falling’ out of the trees on to the lake. So, fish the tree line down wind with ant patters. Last year there was a flying termite swarm and the fish were going crazy for them, happened at dusk but only on one night.
Dries:
Goddard Caddis
Griffiths Gnat
Parachute Adams
Flying Black Ant
Streamers:
Wolly Buggers
Crystal Buggers
Simi Seal Leeches
Zonkers
Nymphs:
Balanced Damsels
Hares Ear
Dark Lord
Birds Nest
Micro Prince
Flashback Pheasant Tail
Fox's Micro Poopah
Balanced Leech
Midges and Chironomids:
Chironomid Bomber
Chromie Red
Vaious Color Zebra Midges