While you can fish year-round in and around Bishop, the magical time of year for anglers is the Eastern Sierra’s trout season. Starting on the last Saturday in April and running through November 15. Opening day is held in such high regard that it’s called “Fishmas.” Casting your line in postcard-worthy scenery may make the trip worth it on its own, but why not increase your chances of catching a fish! Here’s some local intel on the best spots and the most effective gear to use.
Bishop Creek is King
There are A LOT of alpine lakes, streams, and rivers to try your hand at fishing in Bishop’s big backyard. But if it’s your first-time visiting, start at the Bishop Creek Canyon. With an abundance of lakes and streams, it’s truly a fishing paradise. This includes Lake Sabrina, South Lake, Intake II, and the Bishop Creek stream itself. For more details about what to expect at each of these, check out Bishop’s fishing guide as well as the Bishop Creek Canyon page.
What To Use
Understanding what bait to cast is the difference between a successful catch and coming home empty-handed. According to our local guides, the best baits and lures are currently Garlic Gulp Worms, PowerBait, Gold Thomas Buoyants, and Kastmasters. Other effective baits include Zeke’s Sierra Gold PowerBait and Panther Martins.
For the latest information on what’s working and what’s not, be sure to read Bishop’s weekly fly-fishing report.
Show Your Love to the Local Fishing Community
It takes hard work to ensure that these bodies of water continue to provide great fishing opportunities. In addition to the fish stockings done by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Bishop Creek Lodging Partners and the Bishop Chamber have provided extra fish stockings as well.
