Robinson Creek Fly Fishing
PURPLE TOP RETREAT / ROBINSON CREEK GUIDE
From stocked trout to native brook trout, Robinson Creek offers one of the most unique fishing experiences near Purple Top Retreat.
Robinson Creek is one of the hidden gems surrounding Purple Top Retreat. Located within Bear Lake Reserve and bordering Panthertown Valley, this high-elevation mountain stream offers everything from easy catch-and-release stocked trout to remote stretches filled with wild rainbows, browns, and native brook trout.
The creek sits above 3,000 feet in elevation, keeping water temperatures cool enough to provide excellent fishing throughout the year.
Distance
On Bear Lake Property
Species
Wild Rainbow • Stocked Rainbows • Native Brook Trout
Fishing Style
Nymphs • Dry Flies
Difficulty
Easy
Feel & Vibe
Access takes a little effort, but it’s well worth it. Drive past the Bear Lake Reserve tennis courts and turn right onto the dirt and gravel road. Follow it several miles until you reach the concrete bridge marking the boundary between Bear Lake Reserve and Panthertown Valley.
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly recommended.
From the bridge upstream for roughly a quarter mile, the creek is stocked on a regular schedule and managed as a catch-and-release fly fishing stream. This section is incredibly productive, with a deep pool just upstream that almost always holds fish. Whether you’re fishing dry flies or nymphs, it’s one of the easiest places around to catch trout. This is tight casting the entire time….I mean TIGHT casting.
Best Fishing Near Purple Top
While the stocked section is a blast, I usually continue hiking upstream. Once you’re beyond the stocked water, Robinson Creek becomes a classic Smokies-style wild trout stream. The farther you climb, the more likely you’ll encounter wild rainbow trout, wild brown trout, and eventually beautiful native brook trout in the headwaters.
It’s a rewarding progression that feels like fishing three completely different streams in a single day.
My Take
Robinson Creek has become one of my favorite places to fish around Purple Top. I love warming up on the stocked section before hiking into the wild water above. Every trip feels like an adventure, and there’s always the chance of finding another beautiful brook trout farther upstream. I fish this creek almost everyday before work.
This is remote mountain country. Cell service is unreliable, so bring a GPS or Garmin InReach, let someone know where you’re going, and carry bear spray and a bear horn. I’ve had black bears within fifty yards of me more than once. The scenery is incredible, but it’s real wilderness, and you should treat it with the respect it deserves.