Bridgeport Reservoir / Bridgeport

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.