Here's the deal for the July outing:
 
Where: Butt Lake (Northern CA)
What: Floating around a beautiful lake at sunset fishing for huge trout with 2.5" mayfly patterns
When: July 20-22, or July 27-29
 
If you haven't witnessed a Hexagenia hatch, you have to make this trip. Lake Almanor, right next door to Butt, usually gets all the attention for its Hex hatch, but the Butt can be just as epic, and the lake is smaller - perfect for float tubes.  
 
Hexagenia Limbata is the largest mayfly species in the world, and you can not understand what this means without floating around a lake near dark and hearing a huge fish crash the surface gorging itself on this giant mayfly. The flies themselves are about 2.5" long and bright yellow.
 
The area is beautiful, and there are several campgrounds we can use. Float tube access is easy. In addition to huge trout, there is also a large population of really good-sized smallies in the lake. X_Bill and I fished the lake last year, and had a blast.
 
Don't miss this one.
 
Chris

Chris,
 
Are you talking about Butte Lake at Lassen-Volcanic National Park? I love that park. I didn't think anyone knew about it except me?  Always wanted to fish it, too. It's pretty high in elevation about 6100 ft. They had a really heavy snow pack this year. Should be good by July

Quote from xbill_y on Apr 23^rd, 2012, 6:36am:

 
 
Ah Hamms beer.... growing up in Minnesota in the 50's and early 60's I watched a lot of Hamms beer commercials on TV but have never tasted the beer.  
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o83xxWCel8g

Quote from xbill_y on Apr 23^rd, 2012, 10:13am:

 
Mmmmm...Hamms...
 
Chris

OK, the dates for this one are July 27-29.
 
Chris

Hex hatch is supposed to be incredible. I am hoping to fish with a relative in Michigan on a couple of rivers in the NW part of the state for the hatch. Should be a great trip.