“Are we having fun?” I
asked my partner as she pulled a wiggling Rainbow
through a hole in the ice at  Big
Virginia Lake.
It was opening day of the High Sierra trout
season and a howling wind turned the 19-degree
air temperature into little daggers that stung
any bare skin. Another trout soon grabbed our
bait from under the ice and we decided that
in fact we were having a great time!
Whether it’s a beautiful drive through
snow for opening day ice fishing, or a shirt
sleeve summer hike into nearby Blue or Coony
Lakes, or just coaxing scrappy brook trout from
the beaver ponds on Lundy Canyon’s Mill
Creek, these two canyons offer Sierra visitors
a quality high country experience.
Both Lundy Canyon and Virginia Lakes Canyon
are easily accessible from U.S. 395 just a few
miles north of Lee Vining. Lundy is the southern-most
canyon with Lundy Lake located about five miles
up a good paved road. The lake sits at an elevation
of 7,800 feet and holds Rainbow, Brook and Brown
trout. There are boat rentals available at the
resort and hand launching of private boats is
allowed. There are several campgrounds in the
canyon and trailheads into the Twenty Lakes
Basin to the east. Contact Mono County Parks
at (760) 932-7911 for more information.
 One
of the most scenic and interesting parts of
Lundy Canyon is up the dirt road to the west.
Beaver have been busy here creating shallow
ponds in Mill Creek that provide anglers with
a great place of beauty and some hot Brook trout
action.
Lundy Canyon is one of the Sierras most scenic
locations because of the concentration of aspen
trees that frequently put on a spectacular show
of fall color.
A few miles further north, head east from U.S.
395 for six miles to the Virginia Lakes Basin.
The expert on fishing here is the little dynamo
named Carolyn Webb, operator of the Virginia
Lakes Resort (760) 647-6484 located at an elevation
of 9,700 feet.
Rainbows and Browns can be found here, and boating
is limited to non-powered and electric boats
with a 10 mph restriction. There are also launch
facilities and rentals at the resort. For area
information contact Bridgeport Ranger District
at (760) 932-7070. Camping Reservations can
be made at (800) 280-CAMP.
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