Aspens were gold around the resort and the leaves have been falling off for a couple weeks. The trees around mid point on the road still have some leaves but about 3 to 4 miles down the road where there is good cell service you can do about a 90 degree vision of great color especially west toward the peaks. Then another 3/4 mile down the grade the aspens are spectacular. They have about another 3 or 4 days and Conway Summit will be in full color and will stay for about 3 or 4 more days and possibly longer. So pack a bag and lots of camera gear and head on up to see the best color show along the highway.

Top spot for fishing the last 2 days has been Trumbull Lake, then Little or Big, but you have 2 1/2 times the distance to catch the same amount of trout. Big V is 92' deep and 29 acres, Trumbull is about 28' deep and 12 acres. Little V is about 18' deep in the hole and 13 acres.

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 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, yellow glitter, and any shade of green along with pinched crawlers were all on the menu for a couple weeks now.

LURES: Red/gold Buoyant, Red-blue white Buoyant, Blue/silver 1/6oz and use a Duo-Loc swivel. Gold Kastmaster or any small SPOON and a gold Super Duper 501.Panther Martin in black with yellow spots. Stay on the small size for most lures, the fishing pressure has dropped. 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. Light hackle flies are working but you have to check the water to see what's floating, try #12 black ant, Adams parachute, grey hackle yellow, renegade and Griffith's Gnat and any small light hackle 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 some success on streamers in olive, scuds and spider trails dropping soft hackles as it's that time of year. When the aspens are almost done at this elevation they get very active and I can actually see them with a light breeze falling off the pine trees. Yellow and orange soft hackles even Sofa Pillows, renegades and anything small with white wings. Early morning streamers are doing well, with some emergers surfacing. An occasional 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 and callib-cripples. 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.