FREE FISHING DAY – SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021

It was great weather over the weekend and with the Department of Fish and WildLife stocking it was also glorious catching days at the Lake. Lots of folks got out of the heat and tried their luck and many many succeeded in getting that jerk on the end of the pole.

Kris Orosco landed a whopper of a rainbow – a 4-1/2 pounder using a NightCrawler. Brother and sister combo Madison (6) and James (5) Jewell used PowerBait and NightCrawlers to catch their first 8 fish they had ever caught – good job, kids! John Alvarado and Dan and D.J. Shibley caught limits and dinner using NightCrawlers. The Barnes Family also caught dinner taking 14 rainbows back to camp. TMAFI celebrated their 17th year of family and friends fishing together. This year’s winners were Jake Johnson and Bobby Barnes – Congrats.

With the DFW stocking, fishing definitely picked up with NightCrawlers and PowerBait leading the pack on what was getting the fish. Mice Tail, Mini-Jigs and the always tried and true Red and Gold Thomas Buoyants are also on the getting fish list.

We had our first bear encounter of the season Sunday night. Stuck his/her claws in the screen and partially ripped the screen off the window. Dumped the small trash can by the front door, got a couple of guts from the gut can and tried to get into the small trailer breaking the front window pane. Fun times at the Lake!

Bishop’s fantastic 4th of July fireworks show will be back and better than ever for 2021. Since it’s no longer possible to hold the event at the airport, the Bishop Volunteer Fire Department will host this year’s festivities at the Bishop City Park. This venue allows for expanded events to create a full day of family fun. The “BIG DAY” in Bishop City Park starts with free swimming at the park pool from 11am until 4pm. Bishop City Councilmembers will serve up free pie and ice cream beginning at 12 noon. There will be food vendors beginning at 3pm; live music by Idle Hands band at 4pm and Sandy & the High Country at 5:30 pm. The decorated bike & scooter pageant gets under way at 5pm. The spectacular aerial fireworks show will start at dark – approximately 9:30 pm. Fireworks will be launched from the new grass field at the rear (east) end of the park, across from the Senior Center. There will be no admission fee and the show will be visible from anywhere in the park and from most of the downtown area.

Tips: Come early, get a good parking spot, enjoy the day in the park. Consider walking or biking to the event as parking is limited. Picnics okay, but alcohol is prohibited in the park. Leave Fido at home – there’s a no dog ordinance for the park, plus all dogs hate fireworks. NO PERSONAL FIREWORKS ALLOWED.

The Fourth of July celebration this year is a tremendous collaboration in partnership with the City of Bishop, Inyo County, the Los Angeles Department of Water and power, REACH Air Medical Services, Coso Operating Company, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau, Inyo Council for the Arts and KIBS/KBOV Radio.

If you would like to make a donation to help cover costs of the fireworks, please visit this website: https://bishopparksandrec.sportsites.com/player

It’s ThunderBoomer season and they’re in the forecast for the entire week starting Monday, so pack the rain gear. We sure are hoping we get more rain than lightening (sorry to all those camping, but we really really do need that water).

All the campgrounds in Bishop Creek Canyon are now open. Remember Bishop Park and The Forks have switched over to 100% reservation thru www.recreation.gov. Four Jeffery, also, has reservable campsites and first-come first-serve spots. First-come first-serve campgrounds are: BitterBrush, Big Trees, Willow and Sabrina Camp. North Lake is a dry camp with no potable water and is first-come first-serve. The BIG bear roaming thru Aspendell knocking over the big green trash bins and prying the lids open is still roaming – please store your food properly and DON’T feed the bears or the deer.

Currently, private boats can launch from dirt. No parking down in the Lake bottom.

It’s heating up in the Valley and at the Lake. Pack your sunscreen, bug juice and your rain gear. You can check the forecast yourself at www.weather.gov – enter Aspendell, CA and scroll down a bit for the temps and forecast up our way.

Monday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 2pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 81. South southwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming north northeast in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night
A slight chance of thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 5pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms after 5pm. Sunny through mid morning, then becoming mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. West wind 6 to 14 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night
A slight chance of thunderstorms, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. West southwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. West southwest wind 6 to 13 mph becoming southeast in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Thursday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Thursday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Friday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 53.

Saturday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 54.

Independence Day
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Looking for something to do other than fish and hike?

LAWS RAILROAD MUSEUM AND HISTORIC SITE
Take trip back in time and experience the daily life of the early settlers of the Owens Valley. The Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site celebrates the rich history of the period and tells of a time when the railroad station was the heart of a bustling western town.

Close to 50 authentic structures on eleven acres are filled with artifacts and original objects that depict the lifestyles of the homemakers, artisans, and townspeople of the period. Most of these objects of antiquity are the actual tools used by the practitioners of their crafts such as, newspaper publishers, gold miners, ranchers, blacksmiths, dentists, physicians, and pharmacists who lived and worked here.

All the historic buildings are original structures. Some, like the Laws Depot, the Agent’s house, the locomotive turntable, and the oil and water tanks were constructed right here and have stood on this site since the first train rolled in in 1883. Others are authentic structures that were relocated here from their original sites throughout the Owens Valley, and restored to preserve the history of the railroad. The section of narrow-gauge track that remains on the site still carries restored and working railroad cars – all of which date back to the early days of the railway.

The land and structures of the Laws Depot and the Slim Princess, as this railway was known, was gift deeded by The Southern Pacific Company in 1960 when the railway line was abandoned and train service ended. The deed was handed over with the following statement: “In appreciation of the interest of Inyo County and the City of Bishop in preserving the memory of the Far West’s last common carrier narrow gauge railroad, the Keeler Branch, Southern Pacific Company is pleased to donate steam locomotive No. 9 together with other rolling stock, and the Laws Station building and surrounding installations for safekeeping in [sic] behalf of generations to come.”

Six miles north of Bishop on US Highway 6, Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site is not just another theme park, it is a beautifully preserved reminder of the small, once lively town of Laws and the railroad station it served.

The museum is open daily:
Summer Hours (June through August) from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Winter Hours (September through May) from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Admission by donation.

Amateur photography, video, and filming during the Museum’s normal operating hours are always welcome. Any other photography or filming requires special permission. The use of any sort of aircraft such as drones, radio-controlled airplanes, helicopters, etc. is subject to rules and regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration because of the proximity of the Bishop Airport. Dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the museum site. The site has many ramps for access by wheelchair.
For more information about Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Site visit http://www.lawsmuseum.org/index.htm or pop into the Bishop Visitors Center at 690 N. Main St.

A few items we’ll just keep here for the season –

Remember, Lake Sabrina is a reservoir for hydro-electricity. Edison uses the water all winter to make electricity for the general grid. During this time, there is very little water coming into the Lake. The Lake fills from the winter snowpack. This year, due to the work on the spillway last year, the water level started lower than usual and the snowpack is less than usual. The Lake will rise, but will not fill.

Eastern Sierra Transit’s Bishop Creek Shuttle will be running this season. $5.00 per trip. Twice daily roundtrip service from Bishop to the Bishop Creek Recreation Area. This route will run Saturday, June 12, 2021 and will operate seven days per week through September 6, 2021. The route will provide service from Bishop to the Bishop Creek Recreation Area with scheduled stops at South Lake and Lake Sabrina. The route will also provide intermediate stops at all locations where it is safe for the bus to stop. Expected intermediate stops include, but are not limited to, South Fork Bishop Creek Lodge, Parcher’s Resort, Aspendell, intersection of CA-168 and North Lake Road, intersection of CA-168 and Buttermilk Road as well as Starlite Road, and Forest Service campgrounds along the route.

Mono County Tourism sent out a bit of a reminder regarding Mountain Manners – the lands were pretty well trashed last year, please, please pick up after yourselves. Sure, would appreciate the help!

It's time we had a talk about your manners.... Mountain Manners that is!
Like all parents, Mother Nature Loves good manners! Everyone knows the Golden Rule "Take only photos; leave only footprints" but here are a few other Mountain Manners etiquette tips to help protect the Eastern Sierra:
MANNER #1: Follow the Beaten Path
Straying from designated paths can cause harmful erosion, and damage fragile plants, so we ask you to take the road most traveled. (with apologies to Robert Frost).
MANNER #2: Scoop the Poop
Your #2 is becoming our #1 issue. If it's your pet's, please bag it and take it out to a trash can! If it's your own, bury it in a cat-hole at least 6-8 inches deep or better yet, pack it out.
MANNER #3: Gather up Garbage
Even if it's not yours, please pack out litter! Nothing makes Mother Nature happier. Remember, food scraps are litter, too. Even if food is considered "biodegradable," no one wants to see your orange peels lying around - and human food is unhealthy for wildlife.
MANNER #4: Don't Feed The Bears
Or deer, birds, chipmunks, etc. Please keep yourself - and your food - out of the reach of wildlife. Store all food in bear boxes or bear-proof containers, NOT in your vehicle.
MANNER #5: Remove Fishing Line and Hooks
Fishing hooks and tangled line are dangerous to wild animals, birds, fish, pets and kids. Please remove this litter from water and shoreline and pack it out.
MANNER #6: Keep Invasive Species Out
Take all steps to keep invasive species from spreading and destroying out lakes, streams, rivers and meadows.
MANNER #7: Don't Pick The Flowers!
It's no easy task to blossom and survive in challenging alpine conditions - wildflowers work hard to grow! Please don't disturb or remove plants, rocks or artifacts. Their home is right where you found them. Always stay on trail and never destroy or walk on vegetation.
MANNER #8: Social Media Do's and Don'ts
Keep wild places wild and don't geo-tag your Instagram Photo! Special places can be destroyed by Insta-fame. Remember that people may want to get the same photo as you - be sure your pics are taken from a safe place and do not show a dangerous activity or one that could disturb wildlife or fragile landscapes. Selfie accidents are a thing - watch your footing!
Thank you for your stewardship of the Eastern Sierra! More info at: https://www.monocounty.org/plan-your-trip/mountain-manners/

Visiting the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is an enjoyable way to spend a day learning about the oldest trees in the world. Living trees exceed 4000 years of age with weathered, twisted, and beautifully colored wood. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Natural History. Bristlecone pines and limber pines dot this high elevation landscape with great views of the Great Basin in Nevada. To get there – just follow Hwy 168 EAST out of Big Pine and turn at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine sign.

At Schulman Grove, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is open in summer, with interpretive programs, gifts, and information about the trees. Bristlecone trees can be viewed from the parking area and boardwalks around the visitor center. Further exploration of the forest may be done via 3 self-guided trails.

Beyond Schulman Grove lies the Patriarch Grove, 13 miles north on a good dirt road. Patriarch Grove is home to the world's largest Bristlecone Pine, the Patriarch Tree. Its splendid remoteness and moonscape appearance gives the Patriarch Grove a surreal atmosphere.

There are 2 short trails at the Patriarch Grove, with a picnic area and restroom.

A visit to both Schulman Grove and Patriarch Grove is possible in the same day if you get an early start. This is a high elevation, remote area with limited cell phone coverage. If you are going to visit the Bristlecones or camp at Grandview Campground, you need to be prepared to be self-sufficient. The nearest source for food, water, or fuel is Big Pine, CA. Camping is not allowed in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Nearest campground is Grandview Campground.

Received a FORECAST from Edison regarding their BEST GUESS on the Lake water levels for Lake Sabrina (paraphrased)

It looks like the water level will be fairly stable from mid to late June through the beginning of August. Edison plans on draining Intake 2 starting the beginning of August to complete the work on the spillway. Edison will pull a bit more water from South Lake and less water from Lake Sabrina to reduce the amount of water thru Intake 2 and meet water flows in the Valley.

Please understand - this is NOT set in stone. Mother Nature and Life happens!

Juanita, Rick, Patti, Dwayne, Bob, Matt and Len