Me and a buddy are thinking of flying up to Big Creek for a little fishing this week. Question for anyone willing to share expertise; would Fish Lake be better than Big Creek right now for novice fishermen? I have fished Big Creek before from Soldier Bar and it was great, never been to Fish Lake but it's definitely on my list of places to go. We were thinking we'd camp at Vines and fish right there, but Fish Lake is an option. Any thoughts?


Does asking for fishing advise guarantee you'll get lied to?

Big Creek has bigger fish and fewer bugs but also has rattlesnakes and warmer temps.

FIsh Lake has LOTS of bugs this time of year and smaller fish. The lake is tougher to fish without a small raft due to the shallow mucky shore and even with a raft the fish are pretty small(nothing over 10"), but there are lots of them. We typically stay away from Fish Lake until after August 1st due to the bad bugs and this year seems to be worse than normal. The temps stay cooler than anywhere in Big Creek from our experience.

For quality of fishing I would choose Vines or Cabin Creek over Fish Lake. I am friends with an old timer who has been fishing Big Creek for over 50 years and has a secret weapon available at any tackle shop that makes the 20" cuthroat race to strike but if I told you any more he might kill me . Let us know where you decide to go. The Salmon were in Chamberlian Creek this last weekend just over the bank from the airstrip so you may see some in Big Creek also.

Thanks. Sounds like Vines will be best this week.

The trout daily limit for Big Creek, Johnson Creek, the Middle Fork of the Salmon and its tributaries, and the South Fork of the Salmon and its tributaries is ZERO. They are catch-and-release fishing only with barbless hooks.

kevbert wrote:The trout daily limit for Big Creek, Johnson Creek, the Middle Fork of the Salmon and its tributaries, and the South Fork of the Salmon and its tributaries is ZERO. They are catch-and-release fishing only with barbless hooks.

Feeds my soul.... belly is big enough.

We will be @ Vines in the morning to camp and fish for a couple days. If anyone is in the area stop in and visit.