Ice fishing opening weekend produced a lot of fish from both Big and Little Virginia and the weather held until May 1st. Summer has had a hard time breaking through due to continual cold fronts hitting California during most of May. To date I've seen the sun for a total of 9 days. Longest winter on record. Today was the first day of summer thanks to her Majesty "Mother Nature". Fishing has been great but catching has been sensational. Browns from Bridgeport Fish Enhancement Foundation have been stretching lines for a week now that the water temperature has risen along with their appetite. Lower creek campground is open and Forest Service web-site shows the 17th of June for Trumble Lake camp ground. There is still snow around the lakes and on the north facing slopes of the peaks, but it is melting fast, and the rivers are up with some white water conditions.

Bait for the week has been crawlers, meal worms, salmon eggs and the occasional Christmas tree combo (salmon egg-marshmallow). Lures taking serious hits were gold Kastmasters, rainbow Bouyant's and red/gold Bouyants 1/6 oz. Flies standard for this time of year were olive crystal flash wooly buggers #8, black matuka's #8, olive-eyed damsel #8, Orange Wooly buggers, Doc's Twin Lakes special in black, and dark rust, and of course the few special flies that anglers like to keep secret, I can only say they are dynamite. Still snow on the trail in the trees, but will soon be gone with these temps. See you on the water.