Pine Creek / 15-Miles North of Bishop

Name of creek: Pine Creek

Road condition:   Paved     

Region: White Mountain Ranger District   Drainage: Pine Lake

Description: A small, shallow creek with lots of brush and trees; blown out during spring run-off

Species: Stocked Rainbows and some wild Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Bishop

Contacts: Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405; Barret’s Outfitters (760) 872-3830; Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists (760) 872-3581; Culver’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-8361; Mac’s Sporting Goods (760) 872-9201

Nearest campground: Horton Creek (a canyon creek south of Pine Creek)

Fishing season: General: Opening day is the last Saturday in April     

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms or Power Bait.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information: Pine Creek is no longer stocked, but the creek still sustains wild trout populations.

Nearby fishing: Rock Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Upper Rock Creek

Additional information:

Directions: From Highway 395 in Bishop, drive fifteen miles and turn left (west) on Pine Creek Road.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.