Recently in Bishop Area Fishing Category

Lake Name: South Lake    Elevation: 9,755

Road condition:   Paved       Paved to gravel      Gravel/dirt  road         4x4 road

Day hike fishing: Two trails lead to separate high elevation lakes.  One trail leads to Treasury Lakes; the other trail leads to Bishop Pass and Bull Lake and Long Lake. Treasure Lakes is a 2.5 mile hike with a moderate grade.  Mostly Rainbows with a few hybrids and Golden trout, the fish are small but eager to take small flies. (Best source: Eastern Sierra Fishing Guide for Day Hikers by John Barbier.

Region: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 876-6200  Area/description: Bishop Creek drainage

Lake size: 166     Species: Rainbows, brookies and Browns

Closest town or supplies: Parcher’s Resort and South Lake Landing (760) 872-0334

Contacts: Parcher’s Resort (760) 872-0334; South Lake Landing; : Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405; Barret’s Outfitters (760) 872-3830; Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists (760) 872-3581; Culver’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-8361; Mac’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-9201

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle; boat launch

Nearest campground: Four Jeffrey

Fishing season: General        Best times: Spring and fall

Tips: Because the banks are steep and access to the shoreline is limited, South Lake is best fished from a boat.  The best spots are the numerous inlets at the back of the lake. Bait fishermen, using Power Bait and night crawlers, do well at the dam.  Typically the lake is frozen over on opening day and ice fishermen enjoy good catches.  Mid-summer trolling with lures is popular as well. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Stocking information: 24,000 Rainbows

Additional information: South Lake is heavily stocked and heavily fished.

Nearby fishing: Fish the outlet, which is Bishop Creek

Directions: Turn left on Highway 168 from Highway 395 in Bishop.  Follow Highway 168 for fifteen miles.  Turn left on South Lake Road and proceed seven miles to the lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of creek: McGee Creek

Road condition:   Paved

Region: Near Crowley Lake

Description: A small, shallow creek with few pools

Species: Stocked Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Tom’s Place

Contacts: Crowley Lake Fish Camp (760) 935-4301; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground: Gee Creek; McGee Creek RV Park

Fishing season: General       

Tips: Bait fishing downstream with salmon eggs, worms and Power Bait is popular.

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information: 10,000

Nearby fishing: Convict Lake, Convict Creek, Crowley Lake, Mammoth Lakes

Additional information: This little creeks gets much less pressure than surrounding creeks.  It is a good respite from summer heat or strong winds pummeling Crowley Lake.

Directions: From Highway 395 in Bishop, drive 28 miles to McGee Creek Road.  Turn left (west) and drive one-quarter of a mile south on Old Highway 395 to the McGee Pack Station Road.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Photo courtesy of David Neal, www.reelmammothadventures.com

Name of river: Owens River / Gorge Section

From Crowley Lake outlet downstream to Pleasant Valley Reservoir, this section of the Owens River has been manipulated by hydroelectric dams and a scarcity of water in some parts of this stretch.  Successful litigation against the City of Los Angeles has insured minimum flows to 36 cfs, after almost fifty years of little or no water in the Gorge.  Access is limited, and I will have to report back on this stretch of river.  The bottom section of the Gorge may be accessed from a trail from Pleasant Valley Reservoir. Directions: From Highway 395, drive north of Bishop approximately ten miles.  Turn right at Gorge Drive at the bottom of Sherwin Grade.  (This entry will be expanded with text and photographs during the summer of 2008.

Lake Name: Ruby Lake    Elevation: 11,121

Road condition:   Paved to trailhead   Hike difficulty: Mostly easy

Day hike fishing: 1.5 miles on the Mosquito Flat Trailhead above Rock Creek Lake

Region: White Mountain Ranger District    Area/description: Rock Creek Canyon / Little Lakes Canyon / John Muir Wilderness

Lake size: 35 acres    Species: Browns and Brookies and Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Rock Creek Lakes Resort; Bishop

Contacts: Rock Creek Lakes Lodge (760) 935-4311; Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground

Nearest campground: Rock Creek Campground

Fishing season: General        Best times: Late spring and fall

Tips: Fish the outlet

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Good dry fly action or Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information:

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Rock Creek Lake; Mack Lake, Heart Lake

Directions: From Bishop take Highway 395 nine miles to the Rock Creek Road exit at Tom’s Place.  Proceed 8 miles to the lake. Follow the Mosquito Flat Trail 1.5 miles to Mack Lake.  Follow the Ruby Lake Trail from Mack Lake.

Map courtesy of my topo.com.

Lake Name: Heart Lake    Elevation: 10,500

Road condition:   Paved to trailhead   Hiking difficulty: Mostly easy

Day hike fishing: 1.5 miles on the Mosquito Flat Trailhead above Rock Creek Lake

Region: White Mountain Ranger District    Area/description: Rock Creek Canyon / Little Lakes Canyon / John Muir Wilderness

Lake size: 6     Species: Browns and Brookies and Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Rock Creek Lakes Resort; Bishop

Contacts: Rock Creek Lakes Lodge (760) 935-4311; Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground

Nearest campground: Rock Creek Campground

Fishing season: General        Best times: Late spring and fall

Tips: Note: Just before Heart Lake is a drainage lake named Marsh Lake.  It reportedly offers good fishing but is often over looked by anglers eager to fish Heart Lake and the fact that it is marshy.

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Good dry fly action or Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information:

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Rock Creek Lake; Mack Lake, Ruby Lake (Ruby Lake at 35 acres and an elevation of 11,121 is reached from Mack Lake.)

Directions: From Bishop take Highway 395 nine miles to the Rock Creek Road exit at Tom’s Place.  Proceed 8 miles to the lake. Follow the Mosquito Flat Trail 1.5 miles to Mack Lake.  Proceed up the trail another mile.

Lake Name: Mack Lake     Elevation: 10,470

Road condition:   Paved to trailhead   Hike difficulty: Mostly easy

Day hike fishing: 1.5 miles on the Mosquito Flat Trailhead above Rock Creek Lake

Region: White Mountain Ranger District    Area/description: Rock Creek Canyon / Little Lakes Canyon / John Muir Wilderness

Lake size: 4     Species: Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Rock Creek Lakes Resort; Bishop

Contacts: Rock Creek Lakes Lodge (760) 935-4311; Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground

Nearest campground: Rock Creek Campground

Fishing season: General        Best times: Late spring and fall; ice-out can be delayed after a bad winter.  A wilderness permit is required for over-night camping.

Tips: Fish the inlet and outlet

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Good dry fly action or Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information:

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Heart, Chickenfoot and Long Lake

Directions: From Bishop take Highway 395 nine miles to the Rock Creek Road exit at Tom’s Place.  Proceed 8 miles to the lake. Follow the Mosquito Flat Trail 1.5 miles.

Lake Name: Rock Creek Lake     Elevation: 9,682

Road condition:   Paved to trailhead 

Day hike fishing: 1.5 miles on the Mosquito Flat Trailhead above Rock Creek Lake

Region: White Mountain Ranger District    Area/description: Rock Creek Canyon / Little Lakes Canyon / John Muir Wilderness

Lake size: 55 acres     Species: Rainbows, Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Rock Creek Lakes Resort; Bishop

Contacts: Rock Creek Lakes Lodge (760) 935-4311; Bishop Chamber of Commerce and

Visitor Center (760) 873-8405

Facilities: Lodge, marina, boat rentals, grocery store, bait and tackle, RV campground

Nearest campground: Rock Creek Campground

Fishing season: General        Best times: Late spring and fall; ice-out can be delayed after a bad winter.  A wilderness permit is required for over-night camping.

Tips: Fish the inlet and outlet

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Good dry fly action or Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 40,000 + 3 to 10lb. Alper trout. This is in addition to the private stocking program from the resort owners and the Mono County Fishing Enhancement Program. The record Brown for this lake is 15-lb., 8-oz.

Additional information: The paved road to the lake has the distinction of being the highest paved road in the state at 10,150 feet.  The lake does not receive as much pressure as Convict Lake, nor does it have the winds that Convict Lake produces.  It is a popular lake with float tubers.

Directions:  From Highway 395 in Bishop, drive 22 miles north.  Turn left on Rock Creek Lake Exit and drive nine miles to the lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of creek: Rock Creek

Road condition:   Paved   

Region: White Mountain Ranger District   Drainage: Rock Creek Lake

Description: A small creek with a variety of holding water

Species: Planted Rainbows with some wild Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Rock Creek Lakes Resort, marina, general store, bait and tackle, cabins, restaurant

Contacts: Rock Creek Lakes Resort, marina, general store, bait and tackle, cabins, restaurant (760) 935-4311; Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405; Barret’s Outfitters (760) 872-3830; Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists (760) 872-3581; Culver’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-8361; Mac’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-9201

Nearest campground: Rock Creek Campground; East Fork Campground; Palisade Campground; Big Meadow Campground; Iris Meadow Campground; French Camp; Tuff Campground

Fishing season: General      

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms or Power Bait.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information: 36,000

Nearby fishing: Rock Creek Lake; Upper Rock Creek; Little Lakes Valley

Additional information:

Directions: From Bishop take Highway 395 nine miles to the Rock Creek Road exit at Tom’s Place.  Proceed 8 miles to the lake or creek.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of creek: Pine Creek

Road condition:   Paved     

Region: White Mountain Ranger District   Drainage: Pine Lake

Description: A small, shallow creek with lots of brush and trees; blown out during spring run-off

Species: Stocked Rainbows and some wild Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Bishop

Contacts: Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405; Barret’s Outfitters (760) 872-3830; Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists (760) 872-3581; Culver’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-8361; Mac’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-9201

Nearest campground: Horton Creek (a canyon creek south of Pine Creek)

Fishing season: General: Opening day is the last Saturday in April     

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms or Power Bait.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information: Pine Creek is no longer stocked, but the creek still sustains wild trout populations.

Nearby fishing: Rock Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Upper Rock Creek

Additional information:

Directions: From Highway 395 in Bishop, drive fifteen miles and turn left (west) on Pine Creek Road.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of river: Owens River below Pleasant Valley Reservoir

Road condition:   Paved     

Region: Bishop

Description: The Wild Trout Section begins from the footbridge below the campground for 4.4 miles.  It is a catch-and-release fishery requiring barbless flies and lures.  The river is fast flowing during the spring and even into the summer.  Best fished from a boat, the Wild Trout Section offers prolific hatches, lots of bank vegetation and an abundance of fat trout, particularly big, fat Browns.  Popular in the spring before run-off and again in the fall, most devotees prefer manageable flows less than 300 CFS (cubic feet per second).  Reached from Pleasant Valley Road, the Wild Trout Section flows past a towering chalk bluff, through riparian bottom land lined with shrubs, willows, cottonwoods and rangeland.  A sign denotes the end of the Wild Trout Section near Chalk Bluff Road.  From here on down there are no gear restrictions.  From here to Warm Springs Road, DFG stocks 66,000 Rainbows along with hefty Alper stockings.  Most of the fish caught will be from 10-12-inches, although larger Rainbows and Browns are not uncommon.  The best fishing is down to the Collins Road crossing.  From Collins to Warm Springs Road the water flowing from Crowley Lake and then Pleasant Valley Reservoir begins to heat up during the summer pushing trout upstream.

Closest town or supplies: Bishop

Contacts: Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405; Barret’s Outfitters (760) 872-3830; Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists (760) 872-3581; Culver’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-8361; Mac’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-9201

Nearest campground: Pleasant Valley Reservoir

Fishing season: Year-round     

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Use lures such as Kastmasters, Thomas Buoyants and Panther-Martins.  Bait fishermen will need weight to get to the bottom. As the river becomes thick with weed growth as temperatures rise, fly anglers have an advantage.

Favorite fly patterns: Dry fly action in the spring and early summer consists mostly of Caddis hatches as well as some mayfly hatches, particularly baetis and trico hatches in late summer and fall.  Popular nymphing techniques and patterns work well throughout the summer, and streamers work best in the fall.

Stocking information: 66,000 +

Nearby fishing: Pleasant Valley Reservoir

Additional information:

Directions: From Bishop take Highway 395 north for 7 miles.  Turn right on Pleasant Valley Dam Road.  Drive 4 miles to the reservoir and campground.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.