Jumbo Alpers coming to Bishop Creek for the Opener...

[Sierra_Smitty]

Howdy folks!

There has been some BS press on the Eastern Sierra as of late but here are a few highlights which should ease everyone's mind with regard to the big fish situation in the ES. While this is not a fishing report per say, it's an information report - so this seemed like the best spot for the post.

First - hot of the presses (I don't even think there has been a press release yet actually) but there is a load of jumbo Alpers coming to the Bishop Creek Canyon for the opener. It was actually stated in my conversation with the person organizing the stocking that there is some concern that these fish may be too big to safely stock in the creek. My advice was to that the driver will know the deeper holes along the creek and that he should put the larger models in those deeper creek holes, Intake II and North Lake(if the road is open) and save any of the smaller 2-4lb models for the rest of the creek/Weir pond if applicable. Good stuff.

Second - for those that haven't already heard, Mammoth Lakes has already secured 11,000lbs of trophy Rainbows from Desert Springs Trout Farm in Oregon for this season. That is about twice as much as last year and does not include other stocking funds and organizations which may further supplement the area.

I myself received a call from Jimmy Lim (formerly with Alpers) who is now with Desert Springs Trout Farm offering their services for stocking trophies this summer and I would imagine that similar calls were made all up and down 395.

Never fear folks, trophy trout will be here.

Sierrally,
Smitty aka Jared Smith
GM Parchers Resort
Bishop CA

[Which Way Out]

Jared that's great news.

All the best this season.
WWO

[simijab]

Always nice to get the inside scoop. Thanks Smitty!!!

[RiverWalker]

That's great news Jared. I heard about the 11,000 lbs coming from desert springs but not the alpers coming to Bishop. I thought that they already stocked their last inventory? Maybe not enough people signed up for their pre opener event they planned so they could fish out their trophy pond. Either way, thanks for the great news! I'll be there for the opener. Can't wait

[Sierra_Smitty]

That's great news Jared. I heard about the 11,000 lbs coming from desert springs but not the alpers coming to Bishop. I thought that they already stocked their last inventory? Maybe not enough people signed up for their pre opener event they planned so they could fish out their trophy pond. Either way, thanks for the great news! I'll be there for the opener. Can't wait

A lot of people don't know this but there is a local guy in Bishop who has some ponds on his property where the Alpers operation sometimes stages fish in the winter. These fish are used to stock the Owens & PVR when the county provides funding to do so - thankfully, this was a year where this did happen and those fish were indeed staged here in Bishop. These fish tend to be the bigger models and are used for Blake Jones. My understanding is that the Bishop Chamber of Commerce has secured the what's left and is putting them in our canyon for the opener.

[billy b]

You've got mail

[flytyingreloader]

MANY THANKS to Smitty for Keeping It Real as far as the Eastern Sierra trout sitch is concerned. I'm very happy to read that your business and those of your neighbors in the Canyon will benefit from these actions. Mother Nature sure isn't doing the Canyon many favors this winter, it's good that folks are working hard to take up the slack and provide a more hopeful Opener and early season.

[ALandsford]

Good news. I was wondering why you guys don't buy trout from Jim O’Banion’s trout farm in Wellington, Nev.? He has some of the finest fighting (original Mt Whitney strain) trout around. I believe his son once worked for or helped run Alpers.

[Sierra_Smitty]

Good news. I was wondering why you guys don't buy trout from Jim O’Banion’s trout farm in Wellington, Nev.? He has some of the finest fighting (original Mt Whitney strain) trout around. I believe his son once worked for or helped run Alpers.

Most of the trout rearing operations have avoided stepping on anyone's toes - so few hatcheries have been willing to deliver here in the past, even if the demand was there. I've never heard of that place before, but I'll make a note of it. The short (hopefully) hiatus of IAG could very well be a good thing for our area as it will open up the market for other vendors....I believe competition is a good thing, even for the revered Alpers trout.

[ALandsford]

I know they stock at least once a year at Topaz Lake. His son Todd was in partners or working with Alpers some years ago. I believe Todd is now working his dad's trout hatchery. It is not large but I think they raise enough fish to cover your area. Didn't know about the politics of the trout business LOL I have no idea their price delivered in CA (if they can). They claim to have the real Mt Whitney strain of bows. Besides the hatchery, they have a couple acre "lake" that is catch and release that has thousands upon thousands of trout up to double digits in it. $100 for half a day. We stop on our way up to the condo at Incline. Anyway, give them a look. Besides the hatchery info, you might luck out into a free fishing trip for their bruisers.

[seal]

Damn it now you have me thinking about planning another trip but early season!

Hope they plant those Alpers a few days early so they have a chance to move around a bit to avoid some of the Alper's fever that hits some (snagging).

[Big Country]

Hey Smitty - What's the deal with the Conway Summit pond "Fish-Out" slated for 2 weekends from now?

[Sierra_Smitty]

Hey Smitty - What's the deal with the Conway Summit pond "Fish-Out" slated for 2 weekends from now?

One of the ponds on the ranch is not an extraction pond, meaning that it was not intended for all of the fish to be removed. If they try and remove the fish like they do with the other ponds, it will stir up all the silt and in all likelihood kill all of the fish. Instead of that, they're opening the ranch for a 1-time fishing derby of sorts - I think it's a couple hundred bucks to play and you get catch and keep the fish from that pond so they don't go to waste. It's open to both fly and spin fishing. I can look up the exact details and post them if anyone is really interested.

[ALandsford]

Want to catch the big one at the Conway Ranch Pre-season Trophy Trout Derby?
This is your chance to take home a few Trophy Alpers Trout and win up to $3,000
When: Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Conway Ranch Hatchery Trophy Pond @ 100 Conway Ranch Road, Lee Vining
Blind Bogey: Prior to the derby a secret fisherman will catch the Blind Bogey fish and record the weight. During the event each registered participant may catch five fish per registration fee. Those that match the Blind Bogey weight are entered into a raffle to win $1,500.
Biggest Fish: Win $500 for the biggest fish (in pounds).
Highest Total Weight: Win $500 for the highest total pounds.
Grand Slam: Win $500 for catching all three species; Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat.
More ways to win: Prizes may be awarded for additional categories; 1st to register, Skunked and Booby.
Registration: Adult $100, children up to 16 years, $50. All participants must pre-register by April 11 to be eligible. Event is open to the first 200 participants so register early.
First 50 participants to arrive will receive an embroidered ball cap.
Event Sponsors: The Conway Ranch Foundation, Inland Aquaculture Group, June Lake Marina and Crowley Lake Fish Camp
Call 760-709-6446 for more information.

[TroutOnly]

THATS VERY GOOD NEWS JARED,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,bob,,,,,,,,,,