Starting temperature was DEFINITELY cooler this week with perfectly clear air except for W-Thur-Fri. More and more aspens have started to turn yellow around the lake and cabins  and starting to turn along the road toward the pack station. 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 and it has with great photos from all the trophies caught out of Trumbull most of the week. It's great news and very exciting.

 

EASTWALKER RIVER - September 12, 2021

Well, unfortunately the night time temperatures have not been very cold this past week and the water temps on the EW are still in the high 60’s in the morning and the low 70’s in the afternoons. It’s probably still best to leave the river alone for the time being, hopefully the weather pattern will change soon so the water temperatures lower and we can get back out there! We’ll keep you posted as best we can when things down there are ready!

 

BAIT: Top spot for the week is salmon peach, and salmon egg powerbait) pinched crawlers, chartreuse and garlic rainbow glitter powerbait. But night crawlers are always a good bet, then pinched crawlers. Just bring everything, you can make up your own combination. Water is 60 degrees

LURES: Red/gold Buoyant/6 oz., gold Kastmaster, bleeding frog Buoyant 1/6, Black with yellow dots Panther Martin, mini jigs, and your favorite lure whatever it is fling it.

FLY AND BUBBLE: Try the same stuff - Mosquito, 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 still doing well with flies on the south side with small gold Kastmaster's and Red Devil 1/6 oz. Cooney had some action the south side casting toward the middle and letting it move toward the outlet, so you have to be in the southeast corner.

FLY RODS: Again, standard stuff 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: No reports  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.