By the end of Monday evening, we thought we had been transported down to SoCal – the smoke from the Rough Fire engulfed the Lake to the point we couldn’t see the back mountains and it’s been like that every afternoon. We start out with beautiful blue skies and by 2pm the south breezes are blowing that smoke right over the crest. Hoping for the sake of all the firefighters, they get them there fires out real soon!

With the lack of the past thunderboomers, the Lake has started down. We’re dropping a couple inches a day. Still doing the happy dance, as we still have plenty of water for boating.

We’re starting to see more fish on the stringers, but not a lot of full stringers. Fish the Inlets in deeper water with NightCrawlers, PowerBait, Jigs and Flies. Troll in deeper waters with Lures and NightCrawlers. Drift deep around the rock piles with NightCrawlers or PowerBait. Shorefish with NightCrawlers, PowerBait or toss Lures. The state planted us with fish on Thursday.

And another Desert Spring Trout Farm fish reared it’s beautiful tail – an 8-pound brute pulled out by local Bill Young with Debbie Williams. When asked what he caught it on “It’s a secret, the locals know how to fish!” Frank Whitlock can finally prove to his wife that he really does go fishing when he says he does by bringing home a nice 2-3/4 pounder caught on PowerBait. Jacob Levindofske (5yrs) caught a 1-pounder on a “Gween WipWipper” showing twin brother Michael how it’s done – making Dad Mike and Mom Jessica proud. Another Bishop local Adam Graham landed a 3-pound beaut on a Thomas Buoyant.

The Annual Tri-County State Fair is right around the corner. The Fair starts Thursday, September 3 with a concert featuring county singer Austin Webb. Friday the 4th is the FMX Show and ATV Rodeo. On Saturday, Sept 5, you’ve got the Locals Rodeo Bull & Broncs and Sunday night the 6th is the Destruction Derby. And don’t forget all the other fun stuff – the Carnival, Pie Contest, Fiesta Barn Contest, Arts and Crafts and Photography – such fun at the Fair.

Looks like temps are heating up at the Lake this coming week – temps are expected to be in the high-70s low-80’s for the highs and in the high-40s to low-50s for low – No thunderboomers in the forecast. You can check out the weather forecast according to Howard our local weather ‘guesser’ at www.MammothWeather.com. You can also check out www.weather.gov – enter Aspendell, CA (which is the little community right below Lake Sabrina) in the search field and you’ll get the forecast for at the higher elevation. You may need to scroll down on the webpage to see the temps.

Keeping the info below in the report, in case someone missed it . . .

Once again we had fisherman throwing away fish - One of our pet peeves is people catching fish, wanting to have their picture taken for the webpage and then trying to give their fish away. If you don’t plan on eating the fish you caught, please plan ahead – bring a camera to record your catches on the Lake, use good catch and release techniques by using barbless hooks (or just crimp down the barbs with pliers), avoid extensive handling, wet your hands, net and other materials that may come into contact with the fish, NEVER TOUCH THE GILLS, keep the fish fully submerged and upright, allowing it to swim away under its own power. If it’s bleeding, you’re having fish for dinner!

The skeeters are still around, just not in the hoards they were, but you may still want to pack the bug juice, but remember to try and keep it, your sunscreen and any other Foo-Foo juices off your hands – fish don’t like the taste or smell.

If you’re coming to the Lake, don’t forget sunscreen and dark glasses –that sun is pretty bright against the blue sky and the glare off the water. AND DON’T FORGET A JACKET and a PONCHO!

If your hiking with a dog, watch their paws – many ‘city’ dogs are not quite prepared for a long hike on the trail. Still seeing a number of hikers carrying their furry friends down from the backcountry this weekend.

If you’re planning on hiking – PLEASE BE PREPARED – hike with a buddy – leave a note on where you’re headed – when you’re expected back – what you’re wearing – take plenty of water & food – dress in layers – you’ll start out cool, but will probably warm up – CHECK THE WEATHER! Not only is your life on the line, so are the Search and Rescue Teams. Also, if you meet stock on the trail, please go to the low-side, that way if the mules are startled they’ll go to the high side and not down the canyon.

Lake Sabrina Boat Landing Summer hours:
Boat Rentals & Store Hours -
Sunday thru Saturday:
7:00am to 7:00pm
Café Hours -
Friday, Saturday & Sunday:
Breakfast – 7:00am to 11:00am
Lunch – 11:00am to 4:00pm

All campgrounds are now open in the Bishop Creek Canyon. Bishop Creek Lodge, Creekside RV Park, Cardinal Village Resort and Parchers Resort are all open.