Recently in Bridgeport Area Fishing Category

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Virginia Lakes (Upper, Lower and Trumbull Lake + alpine lakes) The drainage offers 10 walk-in lakes within 1.5 miles.

Road condition:   Paved

Elevation: Upper 9,300

Lake size: Upper – 27 acres; Lower - 13 acres

Day hikes to fishing: Ten small lakes with easy access.  Visit Virginia Lake Resort web site for great hiking information.  http://www.virginialakesresort.com/hikingtrails.htm 

 Photo courtesy of Virginia Lakes Resort.

Region: Southern boundary for Toiyabe National Forest       

Drainage: Virginia Creek drains into Bridgeport Reservoir

Description: Virginia Lakes have three lakes that may be accessed by road.  The first is Trumbull Lake, and it is reached by turning right on a spur road to Trumbull Lake Campground.  The next lake accessed by road is Little Virginia Lake and resort.  It too is accessed from a spur road to the left.  Continuing straight ahead will lead to Upper Virginia Lake.  From Upper Virginia Lake a trail leads west to Red Lake, or you may take the trail to Blue Lake, which drains into Upper Virginia Lake.  From Blue Lake the trail forks either to Cooney Lake and the Frog Lakes or the northern fork will lead to Moat Lake at 10,450 feet elevation.

            Trumbull Lake is reached by a short hike on a trail from the campground, but it also has a rough road access to a parking area on the lake.  It is small at 12 acres and offers good shoreline access as well as exposure to lots of mosquitoes in the early summer.  Besides using repellant, one escape is to fish from a float tube.  It generally receives upwards of 10,000 planted trout annually.

            Lower or Little Virginia Lake is a 10-acre lake with a resort that offers boat rentals, but no motors are allowed.  It is a developed lake with summer homes and a small store.  It is annually stocked with 15,000 Rainbows.

            Upper Virginia Lake is the largest at 27 acres.  It offers good parking and easy access to the shoreline, and it is annually planted with 12,000 Rainbows.  Row boats may be rented, but motors are prohibited.  Red Lake is very close, and it too offers good fishing for small Rainbows and Brook trout.

Species: Rainbows and Browns

Closest town or supplies: Virginia Lakes Resort, Lee Vining or Bridgeport

Contacts: Virginia Lakes Resort (760) 647-6484; 19 rental cabins, boat rentals (no motors allowed)

Nearest campground: Virginia Lakes Campground.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Lakes Resort

Fishing season: The season opens the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips: Carolyn Webb of Virginia Lakes Resort offers good tips on her web site for fishing the local lakes and creeks.  Her bait preference is night crawlers, Power Bait and then salmon eggs in Little Virginia Lake.  She recommends a sliding egg sinker with an 18" two-pound leader on all bait rigs.  Until such time that I can make a color illustration, Carolyn recommends the following bait rigs.  (The order is from the weight to the hook. Use Improved Clinch Knot for connections.)

Worm Rig: 1/4 oz. egg sinker in front of a #14 Snap Swivel.  18-22" - 2lb leader, ending with a #10-14 worm hook.

Power Bait Rig: 1/4 oz. egg sinker in front of a #14 Snap Swivel. 18-22" - 2lb leader, ending with a #16 or 18 treble hook.

Power Worm Rig: 1/4 oz. egg sinker in front of a #14 Snap Swivel. 18-22" - 2lb leader, ending with a #14 dry fly hook.

Cricket Rig: 1 or 2 BB weights in front of a Barrel Swivel. 18-24" - 2lb leader, ending with a #10 worm hook.

Fly-Bubble, Dry Fly: medium clear bubble 1/2 - 3/4 full of water in front of a #14 Snap Swivel.  5-6' of 2-3 # leader ending with a #14-22 dry fly.

Fly-Bubble, Wet-Streamer: medium clear bubble 1/2 - 3/4 full of water in front of a #14 Snap Swivel. 5-6' of 2-3 lb. leader ending with a streamer fly pattern or nymph. 

Favorite fly patterns:  Denny Rickards Seal Buggers, Matuka and Zonker streamer, Marabou Leech, along with traditional nymph patterns such as the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail and Zug Bug may be used with the Bubble-Fly technique.  (For more fishing tips, visit fishingtips101.com.

Stocking information: 13,000 annually for Virginia Creek; 12,000+ annually for both Upper Virginia Lake and Lower Virginia Lake, as well as some larger plants from Mono County.

Nearby fishing: Trumbull Lake, Virginia Lake

Additional information:

Directions: From Lee Vining, drive north 12.5 miles on Highway 395 to the top of Conway Summit.  Turn left on Virginia Lakes Road and continue approximately eight miles to the lake. 

Virginia Creek

Road condition:   Paved 

Day hikes to fishing: Eight small lakes with easy access   

Region: Southern boundary for Toiyabe National Forest       

Drainage: Virginia Creek drains into Bridgeport Reservoir

Description: Virginia Creek is a small creek offering pools, riffles and a meadow section.  Although Virginia Lakes Road closely parallels the creeks in some places, Road 139, which forks off Virginia Lakes Road and rejoins it close to the lakes, directly accesses the creek. Road 139 may have a delayed opening until June due to snow conditions.

Species: Rainbows and Browns

Closest town or supplies: Virginia Lakes Resort, Lee Vining or Bridgeport

Contacts: Virginia Lakes Resort

Nearest campground: Virginia Lakes Campground or Trumbull Campground

Fishing season: The season opens the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns:

Stocking information: 13,000 annually for Virginia Creek; 12,000+ annually for both Upper Virginia Lake and Lower Virginia Lake, as well as some larger plants from Mono County.

Nearby fishing: Trumbull Lake, Virginia Lake

Additional information:

Directions: From Lee Vining, drive north 12.5 miles on Highway 395 to the top of Conway Summit.  Turn left on Virginia Lakes Road and continue approximately eight miles to the lake. 

Day Hike: Green Lake is three miles by trail with a moderate climb to the lake, which is set at 9,000 feet elevation.  Green Lake is almost fifty acres and offers good fishing for Rainbows, Browns and Brook trout in the 10 to 14-inch range.  For those with younger legs, East Lake is another mile and a half up the trail. (Bring sun screen, a hat, polarized glasses, mosquito repellant, a plastic rain coat and plenty to eat – don’t forget your camera!)

Road condition:   Paved to dirt  

Drainage: A tributary of Robinson Creek

Description: Green Creek is a small, brushy creek that runs shallow in places, which makes it tough to cast.  Try poking and dabbing with bait or flies.

Species: Rainbows and some Browns

Closest town or supplies:

Contacts: Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707; The Trout Fly in Bridgeport (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground: Green Creek Campground; Twin Lakes campgrounds

Fishing season: The season opens on the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns:

Stocking information: 6,000+ annually

Nearby fishing: Robinson Creek, Twin Lakes

Additional information: Green Creek also has a small pond that may be reached with a high-clearance vehicle or 4WD.  The pond is stocked and holds carry-over Rainbows, along with a Brown trout and Brook trout.  The pond is easily seen from the road leading to the trailhead.

Directions: From Highway 395, five miles south of Bridgeport, turn left on Green Creek Road and drive ten miles to the trailhead.  Green Creek may also be accessed from the Virginia Lakes Road.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Twin Lakes Recreation Area (Upper and Lower)

Lake name:  Elevation:

Road condition:   Paved     

Day hikes to fishing: (See Barney Lake)

Region: Toiyabe National Forest    Area/description: Twelve miles south of Bridgeport

Lake size: Upper-265 acres; Lower-391 acres    Depth: 100+    

Species: Rainbows and Browns

Closest town or supplies: Lake resorts or Bridgeport

Contacts: Annett’s Mono Village (760) 932-7071; Twin Lakes Resort (760) 932-7751; Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707; The Trout Fly in Bridgeport (760) 934-2517.

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

Nearest campground: Five campgrounds are spread out on Robinson Creek below Lower Twin Lake (Crags Campground; Honeymoon Flat; Lower Twin Lakes Campground; Paha Campground; Robinson Creek Campground)

Boating: Speed restriction

Fishing season: The season opens the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns: Both lakes attract fly fishers in float tubes fishing the evening hatch.

Stocking information: 45,000+ annually in both lakes + Alper plants

Additional information: Although the Brown trout fishery is in decline, the state record Brown was taken from Upper Twin Lake at 26lbs-8 oz. in 1987.  Previous to that record, the state record for a Brown trout was 26-pounds taken in 1983 in Lower Twin Lake.  Large Browns still feed on planted trout, and some say that the record could be broken again. Note: The small connecting stream between the lakes is closed to fishing.

Nearby fishing: Robinson Creek

Directions: From Highway 395 south of Bridgeport, turn left on Twin Lakes Road and travel approximately 11 miles to Lower Twin Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Robinson Creek / Twin Lakes drainage creek

Road condition:   Paved      

Region: Twin Lakes       

Description: Flowing through campgrounds in an alpine setting and alongside the Twin Lakes Road, Robinson Creek is a popular fishing spot both for its beauty and access to good fishing for stocked Rainbows and elusive Brown trout.

Species: Rainbows, Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Twin Lake’s resorts, Bridgeport

Contacts: Annett’s Mono Village (760) 932-7071; Twin Lakes Resort (760) 932-7751

Nearest campground: Many campgrounds in the Twin Lakes area

Fishing season: The season opens on the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: All baits work well, especially in the early summer when fish are really hungry and the water is cold.  Small jigs, weighted grubs and small tube worms work especially well in the pocket water.

Favorite fly patterns: Attractor patterns

Stocking information: 53,000 + annually

Nearby fishing: Twin Lakes

Additional information: Robinson Creek has heavy fishing pressure throughout the summer season.

Directions: From Highway 395 south of Bridgeport, turn left on Twin Lakes Road and travel approximately 11 miles to Lower Twin Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Barney Lake / Above Twin Lakes

Elevation: 8,300

Day Hike: 3 ½ miles on a moderate grade

Region: Twin Lakes          Area/description: A picturesque cirque lake, Barney Lake also provides hikers with the opportunity to fish upper Robinson Creek.

Lake size: 12 acres      Species: 7 to 10-inch Brook trout and Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Twin Lakes Resort, Bridgeport

Nearest campground: Twin Lakes campgrounds

Fishing season: The general season opens on the last Saturday in April and closes November 15

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns: The Fly and Bubble technique with small nymph patterns.

Additional information: Bring along sun protection, lots of water and mosquito repellant.

Nearby fishing: Twin Lakes, Robison Creek

Directions: From Highway 395 in Bridgeport, take the Twin Lakes Road approximately twelve miles to Mono Village, where you may access the trail to Barney Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Buckeye Creek /  Accessed north of Bridgeport

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

Region: Bridgeport area      Drainage: A drainage creek for Bridgeport Reservoir and a tributary of Robinson Creek

Description: Buckeye is a small meadow creek with little brush and willows to thwart one’s casting.  However, lack of cover demands a stealthy approach and a low profile.  Brookies are stocked in and around the campground.  The upper creek has some beaver ponds and some Brown trout.

Species: Planted Brook trout along with some wild Brown trout and Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Bridgeport

Contacts: Ken’s Sporting Goods (760) 932-7707; The Trout Fly (760) 934-2517; Annett’s Mono Village (760) 932-7071; Twin Lakes Resort (760) 932-7751

Nearest campground: Buckeye Campground

Fishing season: The general season opens on the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns:

Stocking information: 4,000+ annually

Nearby fishing: Bridgeport Reservoir, Robison Creek, Twin Lakes

Additional information:

Directions: From Highway 395 in Bridgeport, drive approximately seven miles on Twin Lakes Road.  Turn right on Buckeye Creek Road and continue a couple of miles to the creek.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Bridgeport Reservoir

 Elevation: 6,500

Road condition:   Paved     

Region: Behind the town of Bridgeport          Area/description: A large meadow reservoir devoid of trees and other structure, Bridgeport Reservoir can become weed infested, which hampers fishing but in turn enhances prodigious trout growth.  During early summer, the west bank attracts many trout feeding and cruising along the feeder creeks that dump fresh water and abundant insect life into the water.  Add forage fish in these shallow waters, and the west bank produces great catches of big trout until the creeks recede and the heat of summer makes the area too low in oxygen and cover for trout to linger and feed.  They move to the east side of the lake, especially around the deeper zones of the dam area.  Shore anglers mostly fish the dam area.  As the summer progresses, trolling becomes very difficult due to the weed and algae growth.  Float tubers work the pocket areas in the weeds using streamers. The largest trout are caught in the spring and late fall in the ten pound class.

Lake size: 3,000 acres at full pool    Species: Rainbows and Brown trout

Closest town or supplies: Bridgeport

Contacts: Ken’s Sporting Goods , 258 Main Street, (760) 932-7707

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground (No camping along the lake.)

Nearest campground: Twin Lakes area

Boating: Boat launch and boat rentals

Fishing season: The general season opens on the last Saturday of April and closes November 15.

Tips: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods made the following recommendations from a survey on fishing Bridgeport Reservoir.  His "First Choice Selection" included Countdown Rapalas, the original Rapalas, Thomas Buoyants, float bubble and fly combination,  inflated night crawlers, and Power Bait.  His "Second Choice Selection" included Berkley Gulp Worms and Kastmaster lures.  His "Third Choice Selection" included Dare Devil lures, Little Cleo Lures, Worden Flatfish and salmon eggs.  His "Fourth Choice Selection" rounded out with Mepps Aglia, Mister Twister, Norman Deep Tiny "N" and Rooster Tail.  Jim recommends casting Rapalas, Thomas Buoyants and Kastmaster lures from the shore near the dam and from the dam 1/2 mile south.  Trollers should work Rainbow Point to the dam on the west side.  Fly tubers have good success on the south end of the lake near the marina or across in Buckley Bay.  Ken's Sporting Goods caters to anglers, hunters and campers, as well as offering guided fly fishing trips on both public and private waters.

Stocking information: 33,000 annually, plus 25,000 fingerling Brown trout

Fishing Tips 101. com

Nearby fishing: Twin Lakes, Robinson Creek, Green Creek, East Fork of Walker River

Directions: From Highway 395 in Bridgeport, take Highway 182 five miles to the reservoir.

East Fork of the Walker River

Road condition:   Paved, Highway 182 from the junction with Highway 395 to the Nevada border       

Region: Highway 182   Drainage: Bridgeport Reservoir

Description: Court cases have protected how much water draw-down will be allowed during drought cycles in order to protect both the trout and the insect life from the ruinous impact of flushing silt into this famous trophy trout stream.  The East Fork of the Walker River has made a comeback since 1988, and once again it is joining the ranks of other famous trout streams throughout the West.  Although the East Fork produces big trophy browns, they are not easily caught, as the water is swift, the rocks are slippery and the shore is lined with heavy brush.  Aggressive wading is the norm.  Pressure is most heavy at the outlet of Bridgeport Reservoir, where a large pool congregates spawning Rainbows in the spring and Brown trout in the fall.  It is here where anglers sling hardware in the hopes of catching a huge Brown trout.  From this large pool downstream for 1.5 miles, the East Walker generally holds the largest rainbows and browns.  Further downstream towards the Nevada border, the fish become fewer in number and smaller in size, but with some hefty exceptions to keep anglers pounding all the available access points along this eight mile section of river to the border.

Restrictions: Only artificial lures or flies may be used, and the hooks must be barbless.  At the Big Pool downstream for 1.5 miles special harvest regulations restrict anglers to one fish over 18-inches.  (Why would anyone kill such a beauty when they could take a photograph?)  From that point downstream to the Nevada border, the harvest limit is two fish, which must be a minimum length of 14-inches. 

Species: Brown trout and Rainbow trout

Closest town or supplies: Bridgeport

Contacts: Ken’s Sporting Goods (760) 932-7707; The Trout Fly (760) 934-2517

Nearest campground: Twin Lakes

Fishing season: Opens the last Saturday in April and closes early on October 31.

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures:

Favorite fly patterns: Early summer patterns include Olive Matukas and Marabou Streamers with stout tippets and sink tip lines.  Later in the summer nymphing with strike indicators is popular using caddis nymph imitations.

Stocking information:

Nearby fishing: Bridgeport Reservoir, Green Creek, Twin Lakes

Additional information: Much of the access is across private land that is open to the public, but which may also be withdrawn when abuse takes place such as littering.

Directions: From the Junction with Highway 395 near Bridgeport, follow Highway 182 to the Bridgeport outlet. Highway 182 parallels the river eight miles to the Nevada border.

Elevation: 9,556

Road condition:   4x4 road

Region: Highway 108     Area/description: The Forest Service keeps a lock on the gate until they decide that the road is passable.  The road is rough, and it crosses a couple of small stream crossings, which can be much higher in the early summer.  The lake is basically a barren looking landscape with few trees, but the fishing is generally good.  Koenig Lake and Latopie Lake are reached from Leavitt Lake in a day hike.

Lake size: 58 acres   Species: Rainbows and Brookies in the 7 to 10-range

Closest town or supplies: Bridgeport

Nearest campground: Leavitt Meadow Campground, Deadman Campground

Fishing season: The general fishing season opens the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns:

Stocking information:

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: West Fork of Walker River

Directions: From Bridgeport drive north seventeen miles to the junction of Highway 108.  Turn west on Highway 108 and drive 11 miles.  Look for a small sign on the left to Leavitt Lake.  Follow the rough road approximately three miles to the lake.