 Bishop,
CA - Easy access, spectacular scenery
and plenty of fishing opportunity are they key
elements that bring anglers to this High Sierra
trout fishing area.
If you enjoy driving to your fishing destination,
the Bishop Creek Basin is one of the most accessible
locations in the eastern Sierra, with five lakes,
a couple of “secret ponds” and some
spectacular creek fishing available to motorized
visitors.
Whether you are looking to bag a trophy Alpers
Trout in South Lake, entice eager rainbows to
a trout fly at Weir Pond, or drift peacefully
in a tube on North Lake, this basin is a top-rated
Sierra fishing venue. Opening weekend ice fishing
at Lake Sabrina and South Lake provide drive-to
excitement found in only a few other Sierra locations,
and the challenges and rewards of fishing the
south fork and main branches of Bishop Creek keep
stream fishermen smiling from ear to ear all season
long. Don’t pass up the inlet at Intake
II as a great place to fill a stringer with pan-sized
rainbows, and the recently dredged lake is also
a great producer for float tube fishermen.
Many anglers pass up the “Power Plant Ponds,”
located on Bishop Creek down river from Intake
II, but these scenic ponds are home to beaver
and some scrappy eastern brook trout.
Bishop Creek basin is also the access to hike-in
lakes that can be reached in a day, or to backpackers
or horse packers who want to spend more time in
the wilderness. Treasure Lakes, tucked into a
granite pocket in the shadow of Mt. Hurd offers
crystal clear water and elusive golden trout for
the fisherman willing to make the hike.
A good place to start in Bishop Creek Basin is
at the Bishop Creek Lodge. There is food and lodging
here, but also a tackle shop along with good information
on the local fishing conditions. Susie and Gary
Olson own the lodge and Parcher’s Resort
up the road a bit near South Lake. They also operate
the landing at South Lake.
South Lake is a gin-clear lake fed from the snowcapped
mountains that surround it. There are some monster
browns here, along with some trophy Alpers trout
and a steady supply of stocked rainbows. Anglers
who want to fill stringers will have no problem
at the inlets or near the dam. The trophy hunters
should seek deep water and troll with colors to
get down to where the big fish are hanging out.
South Lake is also a good kick off point for day
hikers who want to try wild trout action at Treasure
Lakes, Hurd Lake and a number of others within
a day’s walk.
The south fork of Bishop Creek runs out of South
Lake and offers stream fishermen some excellent
opportunity. You can amble along the stream for
hours, fishing the holes and often pulling out
a rainbow trout of 6 pounds or more. Where the
creek flattens out down stream a short distance,
there is some excellent fly fishing at what is
known as Weir Pond.
Sabrina is the largest lake in the basin and sits
at an elevation of about 9,100 feet. Like South
Lake,
private boats can be launched and there are boat
rentals at Sabrina along with a small café.
This is “big water,” and some monster
trout can reward anglers who learn the secrets
of this lake.
One of the most scenic lakes in the basin is North
Lake. Surrounded by aspen trees, this is a beautiful
location in the fall when brilliant colors ranging
from red to bright yellow tint the trees. Tubers
love this lake and a Wooly Bugger fly can produce
some spectacular results.
Road’s end past North Lake is also the trailhead
to Piute Pass and the Humphrey’s Basin where
backpackers or horse packers can spend time and
fish for golden trout in many of the area lakes.
Below Sabrina is a lake known as Intake II. A
campground here makes this a great place for visitors
who want to spend time and be close to the action.
It’s not a big lake, but it was dredged
in the spring of 2003 and stocked with both DFG
rainbows and trophy Alpers Trout. This is also
a great lake for fly and tube fishermen.
The mountains that separate Sabrina and South
Lake are home to Tyee Lakes, a chain of natural
lakes sitting at between 10,000 and 11,000 feet.
These are lakes that you must hike to, but the
steep climb is worth it when anglers encounter
the aggressive brook trout here.
For the creek fishermen, both the main fork and
south fork of Bishop Creek offer scenic and exciting
trout fishing, with the pools producing trophies
up to 8 pounds on salmon eggs, worms or Power
Bait.
There is lodging at Cardinal Village Resort, Bishop
Creek Lodge and Parcher’s Lodge, and just
a few miles down the mountain in Bishop. A great
location for those who may only have a short weekend,
and an even better place for people who have a
week or more to spend fishing a variety of waters.
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