Fish & Trail Report
Updated 9-4-19
Trail Conditions
All the major day hiking trials are clear and the hiking is spectacular. The mosquitoes have finally let up but since the weather has been for the most part favorable, outside of some afternoon showers, we haven't dipped below freezing yet so the skeeters are hanging around. The wildflowers are finally fading but for September, there are a still a surprising number of flowers hanging on.
The thru-hikers are still out and about making up for lost time in June and early July...better late than never right?
South Lake Bishop
The lake is no longer going over the spillway but the lake is only a foot or so below full pool making for great fishing conditions on the lake. The water clarity is back to what we're used to with 15-20ft or more of visibility. Light line, preferably 4lb test or less is recommended.
The DFW has continued to stock weekly with 1300lbs of fish stocked in the last 10 days to go along with yet another load of quality Rainbows from Idaho which dropped today. Rumors of another trophy stocking of Oregon fish next week are swirling so we'll see if that materializes.
Anywhere behind the island, near the inlets or in either channel have been consistently productive. Keep an eye out for big cruising fish silhouetted against white granite boulders. Top fish of the week weighed in at 5.10lb toad caught by Bruce Flynn from Downey, CA on a nightcrawler. Other notable catches include a 25" Rainbow estimated at 5lbs caught and released by Uros Seme of Slovenia using a silver Mepps spinner. Both fish were caught near rock piles in the back of the lake. Lots of fish in the 2+lb range also weighed in.
Best Baits - Salmon eggs, pink/white micetails, nightcrawlers.
Best Lures - Sierra Slammers minijigs and miniswims, Thomas Buoyants, Mepps
Best Flies - Wooly Buggers in black, olive or brown, Mosquitoes, Black Ants.
Bishop Creek
It's currently lower than it was all summer but still higher than normal for September. Still, folks are getting quite a few fish, mostly on nightcrawlers. Fly fishers are doing best on bead headed nymphs.
North Lake & Intake
Weekly stockings continue but no lunkers reported. We're expecting the stocking schedule to go to every other week as we go deeper into the fall but as of today, we've been stocked every week for much of the summer.
