Weather: -  (7am Temp  Sunrise/Sunset - FM Full Moon)Sunday45º6:23/7:32Clear, clear with good riffle on the lake.Monday50º6:24/7:30Clear, and beautiful, just got notice that all CA National Forests are closing as of 12noon Tuesday. So far, we are not part of that system, but no notice as of 7pm today.Tuesday51º6:25/7:29Clear with good riffle and light wind.Wednesday51º6:26/7:27Clear with light breeze with occasional gusts, by 4:30pm wind started to pick up a bit with gusts.Thursday40º6:27/7:26

Clear cooler with lite breeze and more to come later today--same as yesterday.

 Friday35º6:27/7:24

Much cooler after the wind last night. FORESTRY closed upper and lower dispersed camping.

Saturday38º6:28/7:23

Still cool BUT VERY CLEAR.

Starting temperature was cool this week and we had a few days of haze with 4 days of perfectly clear air rated at "8". Welfare mosquitoes have left for Florida where there is available skin. 
Aspens have started to turn yellow in small patches all along the Virginia Lakes road from about the old heliport pad where everyone gets cell service. Looks like we are going to have a great fall-color event. 

Trumbull (Trumble) was not stocked all year by DFW probably due to the YEAR-ROUND fishing 5/10 limit. This is NOT a good thing. I urge anyone that disagrees with this new regulation to submit their objection to the CA Fish and Game Commission as soon as possible. Go to their web-site and download the form, fill it out and mail to them, or phone them. Explain your reasons in detail so they understand it's been part of your family tradition for "blank number of years" and the fishing has always been good due to the fact that DFW has stocked regularly. BFEF stocked trophies in Trumbull in July and another full load went into the lake on the 19th, so I'm hoping for some good reports when the lakes temperature settles.

 

EASTWALKER RIVER - AUGUST 7, 2021 

The weather here in the Bridgeport area has warmed up quite a bit the last couple days which has caused Bridgeport Reservoir and the East Walker to also warm up, I think we’ve reached the point now where it’s going to be best to stay off the river for the time being, for the health of the river and the fish. The long range forecast looks like it’s only going to get hotter which doesn’t bode well for the water temperatures. Still monitoring the conditions on the river and let you know when it gets safe for the fish, this may take 6 to 8 weeks if the weather doesn’t change before then, but for the time being we are going to advise our clients to find cooler streams to fish and let the East have a rest. Night temps are down to 35 on Friday am. 

BAIT: Top spot for the week is pink mice tails, pinched crawlers yellow powerbait, chartreuse and garlic rainbow glitter powerbait. Night crawlers are still a good bet, then power worms, and pinched crawlers. Just bring everything, you can make up your own combination

LURES: Red/gold Buoyant q/6 oz., red/gold Kastmaster 1/6, bleeding frog Buoyant, 1/6 Copper Buoyant. floating Rapala's, mini jigs, and bring your favorite lure whatever it is and fling it.

FLY AND BUBBLE: Try the same stuff - Green body mosquitoes and Black Gnat/red tail, Grey Hackle Yellow, Griffith's Gnat, Prince nymph, black gnat parachute, Adams female, and grey hackle peacock red tail. Blue is doing well with flies on the south side with small gold Kastmaster's on the north side. Cooney has some action near the rocks on the north side casting toward the outlet.

FLY RODS: Again, not much change from last week using streamers, grey midges, black ants size 12, Dave's hoppers #12, prince nymphs, and emergers (EC Caddis emerger) on intermediate sink tip. Try a 2 fly rig - Olive Doc's Twin Lake Special with a dropper (Prince, Zug bug or pheasant tail). Still some hatches going off, dark mayflies (duns) and lots of midges still. June bugs are still here. Also try the X-Caddis without a dropper, even some flash tri-color buggers, and crystal flashes. Bring it all, close your eyes and pick something. Tie it on and you'll probably do well. You will not have a problem catching, although it may be small, it's a trout, and it's a heck of a lot of fun. Water is very warm so go deeper.

BACKCOUNTRY: Only my report as not many reports other than what is standard for the front country lakes, but try and use a fly/bubble combo to keep the fish healthy if you do not plan to keep any. Pinching down your barbs would also help the resource if you plan to practice catch-and-release. Flies to try are Green Body mosquito, small Griffiths Gnat, Black Caddis, small Grey Hackle Yellow, Professor, and black gnat parachute.

NOTE: Please learn how to release trout without harming them if you plan to go for larger fish. All fish need careful handling. Do NOT use rags, drag along the shore or touch their gills! If the trout bleeds don’t throw it back into the lake, it will die. If you care about the resource please be careful when releasing fish back into the water and IT ATTRACKS BEARS.

Virginia Lakes Resort is located near the top of Conway Summit between Mono Lake and Bridgeport, CA. We have everything you need to enjoy the Eastern Sierra. Check out our WEBSITE.