​--Trail Conditions--

All trails and passes are open and hikers are making the most of it. Last week we had some afternoon rain and thunderstorms which made for some shorter days but the cloud cover and rain was a welcome change of pace from what has thus far been a very warm summer. The smell of the forest after some rain is super refreshing and the thunder rolling through the canyon is epic. It also knocks the mosquitoes down for a bit, a welcome bonus. The forecast for the coming week looks warm and clear so it would appear the monsoons are done for the moment.

Some of the favorite hikes for our guests this week were the Lamarck Lakes, Blue Lake, Marie Louise Lakes and Treasure Lakes. The wildflowers are really popping along the trail and the splashes of color make the summer scenery especially impressive.

The bears are out, although not often seen during the day. Still, make sure you’re being bear aware.

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A quick reminder to overnight folks to please adhere to posted parking signs so there is enough room for day hikers and anglers.

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Great fishing for fly anglers again this week with lots of wild Browns and Brook trout with the occasional holdover Rainbow rising for a well casted fly. Bait and lure anglers also saw a big improvement following a load of Rainbows from Idaho. The creek got the usual allotment plus half of the fish usually intended for South Lake. It should be pretty good for while with the number of fish we put in.

Also noteworthy is that the flows in the Middle and South Forks of Bishop Creek are great. Many creeks to our north and south are starting to run low due the weak snowpack and runoff, but because Bishop Creek is fed by reservoirs, that’s not an issue we have to deal with. It’s one of the few advantages we have in drought years.

The water level is low but boat and kayak rentals are available and the DFW has wisely been putting the South Lake fish over there. We also stocked Idaho Rainbows, at Sabrina last week, including half of the load that normally would be put in South Lake, so the bite has been pretty good for our guests. Jigs, nightcrawlers, Berkley Gulp Pinched Crawlers and Thomas Buoyants are all good choices. Don’t be discouraged by the lake level near the dam…once you get out on the main lake it’s still spectacular. The Dingleberry inlet seems to be the hot spot for boaters.

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Lots of little wild trout falling for the fly. Black ants, caddis, adams, and nymphs are all working. The pond got a good dose of Idaho Rainbows just before the weekend which improved the bite for everyone else.

A pretty good bite last week following the DFW stocking, but it’s been pretty crowded. Still worth a go if you’re looking for easy access shore fishing.

The spillway project slated for August has been rescheduled so we're expecting this to be a steady fishery throughout the summer.

Good fly fishing from a float tube. Pretty slow otherwise.

No fish have been stocked at South Lake this season; the water is simply too low to get fish to the lake so we suggest focusing on other area waters.

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We DO NOT plan on having any boat rentals up at South Lake for 2021. We are lobbying water managers to store extra water over at Lake Sabrina and pull extra water from South Lake so one of the two reservoirs is close to normal, but we’re still waiting to see if it happens.

While many of the roadside waters rely on fish stocking, the vast majority of backcountry lakes have self-sustaining populations of wild trout. At present, backcountry anglers are doing exceptionally well. We recommend practicing catch and release on wild trout unless you plan to keep a few Brook Trout for dinner since they are plentiful. Resort staffers Jared Smith and Seth Blackamore have written some guide books called “Fishin’ Trails” and “Fishin’ Trails 2” available at businesses and tackle shops all up and down Hwy 395 if you would like more information on how to responsibly and successfully access these fisheries.

Several of our guests are spending a day on Crowley and the bite has been good for trout and perch. Lots of really nice Browns in the 20+ inch range are making for some exciting fishing.

Periodic DFW plants are happening, however the amounts are pretty thin given shortages at the state hatcheries. The first load of Idaho Rainbows was stocked last week. These fish are paid for by a co-op of the Bishop Creek Canyon Businesses in conjunction with the Bishop Chamber of Commerce.

We still have some cabin openings for late July and August so get in on the fun. Book online or call 760-873-4177

Sierrally,

The Parchers Crew