Bubbs Creek Fishing

Kings Canyon National Park

Bubbs Creek in Kings Canyon National Park flows from its headwaters near Forester Pass, meanders through Vidette Meadow, cascades into Junction Meadow and then runs north to join the South Fork of the Kings River near Cedar Grove. Fishing is good along its entire length for those who enjoy the challenge of landing the shy trout that hide among rocks in its pools and eddies.

Day hikers can reach the lower end of Bubbs Creek from Cedar Grove. The section of Bubbs Creek up to Vidette Meadow is along the popular Rae Lakes backpacking loop and sees moderate fishing activity from hikers. I chose instead to fish the upper section of Bubbs Creek from Vidette Meadow up to the Center Meadow junction, ranging in elevation from 9,700 feet up to 10,500 feet. Most of the fish are golden trout. Lower down on Bubbs Creek in Vidette Meadow anglers may catch rainbows and browns.

Bubbs Creek

Sidetrips:

Charlotte Lake is 2 miles from Vidette Meadow and could easily be incorporated into your hiking itinerary as you head back from Bubbs Creek.
Golden Bear Lake in Center Basin is a scenic place to visit, but not to fish. In 2017 the park service was gill netting non-native fish, probably in preparation for declaring it a mountain yellow-legged frog habitat.

Other Nearby Featured Trips

Big Pine Lakes - one day backpack into 9 great fishing lakes and spectacular scenery
Gilbert Lake - along the trail up to Kearsarge Pass. Makes a great overnight stopping place
Lake 10315 - remote alpine lake in adjoining Kings Canyon National Park, requires multi-day backpack trip to reach

Bubbs Creek

In My Creel

#12 Royal Wulff
#16 Black Gnat
#12 Parachute Adams
#16 Adams
#12 Blue Wing Olive

Once again, I left all my spinning gear behind and went only with my fly rod. I did my most successful fishing with the Adams, Blue Wing Olive, and black gnat. I saw several large pools and wished I had brought by light spin outfit, just to see how successful it would be. Alas, another trip.

Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing Bubbs Creek

High Sierra Fly Fishing : Basics to Advanced Tactics A great book for fishing Sierra lakes and streams. Covers everything from beginning to advanced tactics.
FISHINGSIR Fly Fishing Flies Kit - 64/100/110/120pcs Handmade Fly Fishing Lures - Dry/Wet Flies,Streamer, Nymph, Emerger with Waterproof Fly Box - Large selection of flies includes trusted patterns (such as Adams, Woolly Bugger, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith's Gnat, Stimulator, Egg Fly, etc.) used by anglers around the world.
Mepps Plain Lure Assortment Trouter Kit Spinner blades are silver or gold plated, copper, or polished brass .
Panther Martin Best of the Best Trout Lures Kit. Three of their most popular colors in two of our most popular sizes. Razor sharp treble red hooks mimic wounded fish.

Bubbs Creek

Sierra Fishing Destinations

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The Trail to Upper Bubbs Creek

To reach upper Bubbs Creek requires at least one day backpacking (more likely two) over Kearsarge Pass in the Eastern Sierra near the town on Independence on Highway 395 south of Bishop. While Kearsarge Pass is considered one of the easier passes in Kings Canyon, it is still a serious climb from its Onion Valley trailhead. Once across the pass the trail descends to Bubbs Creek in Vidette Meadow, about 9 miles in all. Read full details of the hike in High Sierra Trails: Golden Bear Lake.

You will find inviting fishing waters as soon as you reach Vidette Meadow. Make it a lunch stop and move on before establishing your camp. Vidette Meadow is known for its mosquitoes and bears. Proper storage of food in bear canisters or bear boxes will solve the bear nuisance. Mosquitoes can be an annoyance from late June through mid-August. You may choose to move upstream to a drier area for your camp. Almost everywhere you stop along Bubbs Creek you will find delightful fishing spots.

Lodging and Camping

On the east side of the Sierra look for good lodging choices in Bishop. On the western side, there is a lodge in Cedar Grove and other lodging choices in Grant Grove and in Sequoia.

A Campground are available at the Onion Valley trailhead on the east side of the Sierra and in many can be found in Cedar Grove on the west side.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about campgrounds near trailheads both on the eastern and western sides of the Sierra, see

Fishing Supplies

On your way to the Bubbs Creek trailhead in Onion Valley, you can pick up fishing supplies at the following places:

Brock's Flyfishing Specialists, Bishop
Sierra Trout Magnet Fly Shop, Bishop
High Sierra Tackle, Bishop
Mac's Sporting Goods, Bishop
Hi Country Market & Hardware, Big Pine
Lone Pine Sporting Goods, Lone Pine