Eastern Sierra's - Virginia Lakes Area
The Virginia Lake Settlement is a quaint historic motel and restaurant right along Highway 395 south of Bridgeport. It is centrally located between Bridgeport and Virginia Lakes area, both about a 20 min drive from the motel.
Some areas to fish (depending on conditions):
1. Virginia Lakes Area – this area, located at 9200’ off Conway summit, offers 3 very accessible lakes: Little Virginia, Big Virginia, and Trumbull Lakes. The Virginia Lakes have stocked Rainbows averaging 12-16”, with larger specimens of 2 pounds or more routinely caught. Trumbull Lake has both Rainbows and Brooke Trout. All three lakes are best fished with a float tube or Pontoon Boat. Other back-country day hike options include Blue Lake and Moat Lake.
2. Bridgeport Area – Depending on fall conditions, the East Walker River tailwater below Bridgeport dam can routinely produce rainbows and browns over 20”. The upper meadow stretch (also known as the miracle mile) can provide challenging fishing for large browns and rainbows. The lower stretch below the highway bridge has more rapid, pocket water that can have very large fish. The entire river may have hatches of BWO’s and Caddis that can come off and provide exciting dry fly fishing.
Bridgeport reservoir is another option for stillwater anglers. Large planted rainbows and Native Perch can be found in the fall.
3. Green Creek area – Green Creek meadow is one of the Eastern Sierra’s most beautiful fall colored scenes. Green Creek itself can provide very fun dry fly or dry dropper fishing for both wild and planted rainbows and browns. Other small creeks nearby like Robinson and Buckeye creek can provide memorable fall fishing with a dry fly or dry dropper, and are easily accessible with short hiking and wading.
Fishing Strategy:
Streams – walk and wade hitting the likely spots with dries, dry/dropper or nymphs; keep an eye out for risers and be ready to present dry flies. Novice to intermediate angling ability for the streams.
Lakes – kick troll leeches, buggers and nymphs; indicator methods for midges and balance leeches; be ready to cast to the shore with dries when risers present; Terrestrial fishing in the afternoon can be a blast! Intermediate angling ability for float tubing.
Fish: Trout, Rainbows, Brook, and Browns
Water Conditions:
Currently, with the below average snow pack, the freestone creeks such as Green, Robinson, and Buckeye may be too low and clear to provide good fishing by October. Additionally, the East Walker River can have poor water quality issues caused by low flows. We will survey the area’s up to date conditions before the fish outing and let everyone know what the viable options are. The best advice is to be flexible, (especially if you like to stream fish) and have a plan B like fishing the lakes.
Directions:
From Livermore, I-580 east to I-205 east to I-5 north;
Exit I-5 to Highway 120/108 east towards Sonora;
Follow Highway 108 East over Sonora Pass to Highway 395 north;
Proceed south on Highway 395 through Bridgeport to Virginia Creek Settlement.
Fishing Logistics:
We will pair up like-minded individuals and car pool/caravan over to the waters where we will fish. This includes both steam anglers and float tubers. We will have information sharing (tall tales telling?) over dinner and adult beverages to determine a plan for the next day.
Accommodations:
The Virginia Lakes Settlement is a full service motel and restaurant with several options. Room options include the Motel (2-4 people), housekeeping cabins with kitchenettes (4-5 people), tent cabins (bed + table + campground shower) and even covered wagons. There are BBQ areas and fire pits available throughout the resort. If you have a group you are coming with, we will try our best to put you together in the same accommodation so you can share costs. The deposit required to secure your spot will be the first night’s cost. The cancellation policy is if you cancel outside 48 hrs (by Oct 11) you get a 100% refund. Beyond that you will forfeit your deposit. It will be up to you to find a replacement so you can get reimbursed.
Invasive Species Inspection:
The golden mussels are becoming a major threat to CA freshwater. All boats, including float tubes, Pontoons, Kayaks, etc… are subject to an inspection. Inspection/decontamination stations will be setup at various locations in the Eastern Sierra. Upon successful inspection, you will be given an Eastern Sierra Mussel sticker and can launch. For more information: https://easternsierrawid.com/
Non-Fishing Activities:
If you are looking for a break from fishing or want to spend some time with your significant other, there are several options within a short driving distance of the motel like Mono lake ( ½ hour) and Bodie State Park ( ½ hr). These side trips can be done before or after the fish outing on the drive to/from.
Website Info:
Virginia Creek Settlement
Fishing Reports
Weather Conditions:
Fall weather in the Eastern Sierra has something for everyone, meaning mornings can start out in the 'teens then quickly warm up to the 70's by early afternoon. I've had clear, beautiful mornings that end up with snow falling in the afternoon. So, be prepared for anything and dress in several lighter layers so you can take them on/off as needed.
Cost:
Cost: The cost is $25.75 paid by credit card, directly online with your registration.
Family Policy: Spouses and family members under the age of 26 years old are included in each member's annual membership, and can attend events at no cost, unless TVFF has supplemental costs (such as guide or facility fees) for the event. In such cases, each attendee must pay the appropriate event cost listed above.
Participant hotel and camping accommodations and food are extra.
Fishmeisters:
Jeff Lorelli, jelorelli@gmail.com
Jim Knecht, jdknecht@pacbell.net
Accommodations and Food:
Accommodations: The Virginia Creek Settlement is a clean reasonable motel, with a large group area and fire pit.
You are responsible for your own lodging including securing your reservation with a credit card.
Food:
Tuesday (no-host) dinner at Virginia Creek Settlement;
Wednesday - Friday, Breakfast and Lunch is DIY
Wednesday - Thursday, Dinner is DIY - BBQ at Virginia Creek Settlement, bring your own meat to grill, side dish, drinks, & dessert.
Gear and Tackle Recommendations:
Rod & line weights/types:
Streams: 3 to 5 wt rods and reels with weight forward, floating lines
Lakes: 5 to 6 wt rods and reels with weight forward, floating lines; sinking line, Intermediate or Full-Sink, either uniform (level sink) or sink tips.
Leaders: Fishing style dependent.
Streams: 4x or 5x Tapered
Lakes: 3x or 4x dependent on situation.
Tippet:
Streams: 5x or 6x for dries.
Lakes: 3x or 4x or straight (no -tippet)
Other gear:
Streams: Standard waders, boots, and wading staffs and normal fishing wear.
Lakes: PFD required for lakes, float tube, pontoon boat, regular boat, fishfinder to track depth and mark fish, net, or Boga Grip, camera for lakes. Some people carry two rods. One rigged for fishing dries and the second with a sinking line.
Flies: Suggestions will be provided as we get closer to the outing date.
TVFF Cancellation Policy:
To sign-up for a TVFF Event that is currently open for registration and chargeable (as set by the Fishmeister), you must both register and pay online within fifteen (15) minutes whatever fee is described for that particular Event (trip) at the time of registration. Cost includes a 3% credit card fee.
Once you are registered, there are no refunds for chargeable Events and trips. In the situation that a member is, for any reason unable to attend, they may resell their registration slot to another TVFF member (by first pulling from the waitlist if one exists). New participants must come first from the waitlist in the order they signed up. The member cancelling is fully and solely responsible for contacting potential members to replace them and notifying the appropriate Fishmeister.
If an event/trip is fully registered and closed to registration, you may still sign up on the Wait List to be notified if there are any cancellations. In such a case of registering provisionally on the Wait List, you do not have to pay until such time that you clear the Wait List and are confirmed for participation.
Tri Valley Fly Fishers
TVFF Outings protocols are as follows:
- If you are sick with cold/flu symptoms then we ask you to please stay home
