Heenan Lake Fish-Out
This fishout is open to currently registered 2025 LTFF Level 3 students.
When: October 18-19, 2025. Arrive at 11am on Sat. Concludes on Sun at noon.
Location: In the Sierra south of Lake Tahoe, 220 miles east of San Francisco. Heenan Lake is off Highway 89, 8 miles east of Markleeville, California (Alpine County). 4-5 hour drive from San Francisco
What: Lahontan Cutthroat
Group size: 6 students, 2 leaders – each in their own floats
Mandatory Safety Clinic: registrants must attend the Float Tube Safety Clinic on Sat 9/13/25, 2-5pm @ GGACC ponds (unless you have prior experience)
https://www.ggacc.org/event-6309994 (sign up here)
Cost: $50 registration fee. Travel to/from, meals and lodging are not included.
Description:
The 135-acre Heenan Lake has been renowned for producing huge Lahonton Cutthroats up to 30" with the average being 16 to 20". The Department of Fish and Game have a station there that take some spawners from the lake for egg collections. These eggs are distributed to a number of other state hatcheries including the Hot Creek Hatchery and Nevada Dept of Wildlife. The hatchlings are restocked into Heenan and over 30 additional Eastern Sierra lakes. The Heenan Lake Lahontons are actually a hybridized strain of the original Lahonton Cutthroats that inhabited Lake Lahonton in prehistoric days. The regulations to Heenan Lake is a strict catch and release on barbless hooks on flies or artificial lures. The season opens on September 1st through November 30th. The tributaries to Heenan are also open to catch and release fishing during this time. Heenan is ideal for float tubing but has received heavy fishing pressure recently due to its reputation for big trout.
Trolling streamer patterns of Woolly Buggers, Leeches and Matukus in Black, Purple, or Olive from a float tube has been the favored method to fish Heenan. No gas-powered crafts are allowed. It's shallow so an intermediate sinking line is sufficient. Dark-colored nymphs in sizes 12-14 such as Pheasant Tails, Bird's Nests, and Prince Nymphs with an indicator also work well. Use a slow retrieve. Recently, using a chironomid pattern has become quite popular when used as a dropper below the nymph from 2 to 20 feet in depth. Allow the rig to sit with an occasional twitch. Generally, an intermediate sinking line is the best bet with a non-tapered 7-8’ leader. The Lahontans do not put up as rigorous fight as a similar-sized Rainbow so a leader of 4x to 5X should suffice.
The Lahontans cruise throughout the lake but a popular area is the inlet of Heenan creek at the east end. This is fairly shallow with plentiful weed beds. Try casting a nymph pattern into the weed beds and retrieve slowly. The southern end of the lake is also popular with weed beds usually present.
Equipment you will need: (There will be much more discussion during the Zoom call)
- Water craft – bring your own float tube (recommended), Watermaster, pontoon boat, or kayak. There are no local rental shops around Heenan Lake.
- Chest waders with belt, wading boots or booties
- A Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is mandatory at all times per GGACC policy
- Fins, with a tether system is highly recommended
- Net
- If using more than 1 rod, fly rod tether or float system
- Rod: a 9 ½’ - 10’ moderate/fast action is ideal but a 9’ rod works great. 6 weight is ideal. If you have a 5 and 8 weight, bring the 5.
- Line: Weight-forward floating and Intermediate sinking line (integrated) matched for the rod would be a nice 2 rod set-up but just a floating line will work fine
- Indicator: Deep-water Quick Release or an indicator that will allow the leader to slide freely through a small loop or eyelet, i.e., Gray’s Indicator, Thingamabobber without Jam-Stop
- Leader:
- o For an intermediate sinking line, use 5’-7’ of 3X fluorocarbon (non-tapered)
- o For the Deep-Water Quick Release Indicator technique, can use a commercially produced indicator/nymphing leader, or build your own leader and use a quick release indicator. Details will be provided during the Zoom call.
- o Lance Gray published a very nice article describing an indicator/nymphing leader for deep water in the recent Summer 2025 edition of the California Fly Fisher. Details will be provided during the Zoom call.
- Flies: Chironomid patterns #10-18 of various color and sizes. Larger sizes #10-12, seem to be most promenade. Dark-colored nymphs in #12-14, such as Pheasant Tails, Bird's Nests, and Prince Nymphs are also very good. Stripping (slowly) black, purple, olive woolly buggers #6-8, leeches #8-10, and Matukas #6-10 are very popular.
Other Stuff:
- 2025 CA Fishing License
- Plenty of sunscreen and a broad brimmed hat
- Polarized sunglasses
- Lots of drinking water, snacks
- Medium dry bag for storing snacks, water, jacket, etc.
Logistics:
Meet at Heenan Lake parking lot (there’s only one). Arrive Saturday at 11am, start fishing at noon. On Sunday morning, meet at 7am ready to fish, conclude at noon. Port-a-potties are available but no running water.
Lodging: There are lodging options in 1) Woodsford, CA, 2) Markleeville, CA, and 3) Gardnerville, NV.
Leaders: Jeff Hogan and Bob Fujimura – co leads. Jeff is one of our valued FFI certified GGACC casting instructors and a frequent volunteer for LTFF events. Bob has extensive experience fly fishing Stillwater and has led LTFF fishouts.
Contact: Jeff Hogan @ jeff.hogan8454@att.net