Aspens are getting some gold around the resort and the color is slowing down a bit up here.

We replaced the "NO SWIMMING/NO GAS MOTORS" ON THE NEW BILLBOARD that Forest Service replaced last September AT BIG VIRGINIA. If you see anyone swimming please inform them "nicely" it is NOT allowed because it is drinking water and no gas motors. This also means flat boards with people not wearing full waders. FS

BAIT: Guess what, crawlers took over the top spot with power bait close behind and mice tails are  all doing their job. Pink with white heads are the hot ticket, or orange with white head and brown with red head, rainbow glitter garlic, and yellow glitter powerbait, red powerbait and a shade of green along with pinched crawlers were all on the menu for the week.

LURES: Same lures on the list but try your favorite or smaller if available; 1/6oz Red/gold Buoyant, Blue/silver and use the right swivel (not a snap swivel), gold Kastmaster or any small SPOON and always try a gold Super Duper 501. Stay on the small size for most lures, the fishing was sensational when it's windy or light haze from fires. One cast/one fish just about every time if you pick the right lure and spot along the shore. Water has warmed up again so go deep and try your best "junk" to toss that these stubborn trout.

FLY AND BUBBLE: Will work if you practice your best cast and drop your rod tip and stay consistent in your retrieve. Dark flies are working but has slowed down, #12 black ant, Adams parachute, grey hackle yellow and Griffith's Gnat and any small dark flies. Kind of nice to teach that method and it saves the resource for catch and release. AGAIN, early and late for better results. It has to be a perfect midday to catch on this method. Meaning, great ripple light breeze off and on so they trout are a bit confused as to what's moving the surface, of course a hatch would be very helpful.

FLY RODS: Anglers were having issues with the heat and fishing deep was off and on this past week until the wind picked up again. Friday Edison pulled an outage due to the high winds and early Saturday morning. It's seems to be south and north of Conway Summit. Everyone with a fly rod hit the lake Friday due to the stocking. same. Early morning streamers are doing exceptionally well, with some emergers surfacing. A continued hatch of very small midges on Little V, Matuka's, Virginia Lakes Specials regular and VL specials, and bead head nymphs, AP nymphs and parachute Adams, calli cripple, and soft hackles (spider trails)0. Always bring everything  as your arsenal might have a surprise you haven't tried prior. The weather changed and fishing and catching is downhill for those not interested in getting wet (too bad). There are diehards out there.

Carolyn