Probably one of the best weekends ever – the week wasn’t half bad either. The colors are spectacular – golds, reds, lime greens, oranges – just down-right gorgeous – the temps in the low 70s with the touch of a breeze. Now the beginning of last week saw smoke, then rain. By Tuesday morning, we had new snow in the backcountry basin and NO smoke. Yup, happy dance! And it just got better the closer to the weekend we got.

A bit of patience was needed this week to get your limits, but with the stunning views all was good. A new one for you back at the inlet – some of the streamer flies are working along with the usual – NightCrawlers, Jigs (Sierra Slammers) and PowerBait. Trolling slowed a tad – fish aren’t down as deep as they were – might try using Flashers (Dave Davis) and a NightCrawler or just a NightCrawler, split shot and swivel (DON’T FORGET THE SWIVEL) – might want to also try a Lure with a bit of red on the them (Red/Gold Thomas Buoyant). Drift a NightCrawler or PowerBait thru the channels and enjoy the views. Shorefishing with NightCrawlers, PowerBait or a Fly and a Bubble.

Chris Stark and Raymond Escarzega had their best day ever fishing the Lake – caught and released over 20 nice size fish and kept another 4 apiece for dinner. Jesse Kindel of San Diego landed a 2-1/2 pound RainBow on a NeedleFish. Keenan Etter (7yrs old) caught his first fish at Lake Sabrina ‘on a fishing pole’ with Dad AJ and cousin Ayden. Richard Stara with the help of Mai-Tai pulled in a 2-1/2 pounder on – wouldn’t tell us. (Mai-Tai also loves to ride with Richard on his motorcycle.)

Still seeing the Eagles, Ospreys and Deer around the Lake – no bear sighting for us this week. Have you ever noticed the thousands of little dimples as you walk the Lake bed? Those are the spawning holes that the Owens Valley Sucker Fish makes when laying their eggs – their thousands of eggs. Just another interest fact from your friends at the Lake.

Lake Sabrina Boat Landing has closed the Cafe. THE STORE AND BOAT RENTALS ARE STILL OPEN! We’ll still have homemade pie and homemade ice cream along with ice, candy, chips, snacks, soda, water, beer and wine available. Please note our Fall hours:

Lake Sabrina Boat Landing Fall hours starting September 7th, 2015:
Boat Rentals & Store Hours
CLOSED WEDNESDAY
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
8:00am to 6:00pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
7:00am to 7:00pm
Café – CLOSED

(except for Homemade Pie & Ice Cream for a couple more weeks)

As I said last week, Fall is here! One day is warm and sunny, the next cool and wet, so with that in mind – here’s MAYBE what to expect this week. We’ve had NO smoke over the Lake in the last week – THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS AND MAMA NATURE! Looks like it might be a bit breezy on Tuesday. Temps are forecast for the low 70s and upper 60s for highs and low 40s for lows thru the weekend. Don’t see any precip in the forecast, but you never know in the Sierra. The mornings are cool until that sun pops over the mountain so layer accordingly. 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 webpage to see the temps.

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

Jarod from Parchers Resort & South Lake Boat Landing posted this item – thought it should be passed on:

- - - Important Announcement - - - CARS ARE BEING TOWED! - - -

The US Forest Service HAS CLOSED the South Lake Road near La Hupp picnic area (about a half mile above Parchers) through October 30th to complete a badly needed resurfacing project at the Bishop Pass and South Lake parking lots. This means that all hiker parking for the Bishop Pass trail must be along South Lake Rd BELOW the Parchers Resort entrance for the remainder of the season. There is no overnight parking allowed at Parchers Resort itself or at Rainbow Pack Outfit. The USFS is putting up signage directing folks to access the trail through Parchers Resort / Rainbow Pack Outfit. This will add 1.4 miles to the Bishop Pass Trail but is unavoidable until the project is completed.

There will be limited DAY USE ONLY parking at La Hupp picnic area and a few smaller lots below that area where folks can park for accessing the stream or walking up to Weir Pond. Be advised that all access to Weir Pond this fall will be walk-in only.

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!

Remember to keep 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. Also, if you’re prone to allergies, don’t forget your meds! 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.

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.