Middle Fork Bishop Creek / Bishop Area

Name of creek: Middle Fork Bishop Creek

Road condition:   Paved    

Region: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 876-6200  Drainage: Bishop Canyon Lakes

Description: A small creek with good volume and pocket water.  This creek gets probably the most pressure of all the surrounding creeks; however, it is heavily stocked throughout the season.

Species: Planted Rainbows with wild Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Bishop and lake resorts

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

Nearest campground: Numerous campgrounds in the Bishop Canyon

Fishing season: General: Opens last Saturday in April    

Tips: During the early season check road conditions for chain requirements.

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: 35,000 + Alpers

Nearby fishing: South Lake, Sabrina Lake, Intake II Pond,  North Lake

Additional information: South Lake and South Lake Trailhead (Hurd lake, Marie Louise, Bull Lake, Long Lake, Treasure Lakes

Directions: Turn left on Highway 168 from Highway 395 in Bishop.  Follow Highway 168 for seventeen miles until you reach the creek. 

Bishop Creek Canyon Lakes

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.