Sep 11
28
TROUTEST TIME
It must be the end of a great season on Big Bear Lake, its TroutfesT time!!! October 1st and 2nd will see up to a 1000 anglers working the waters of Big Bear Lake. Some will be in search of tagged trout for a Ford F-150 or a $25,000.00 payout. Others will pursue stringers of hefty trout stocked for the event to be proclaimed the overall winners in adult/junior male and female categories. If that isn’t enough every entrant has a raffle chance at a boat, motor and trailer. If you are not lucky enough to claim one of these prizes, you can still win money in the blind bogey draw. The blind bogey is simple and fun. Any trout you catch is recorded when it is weighed in, random weights are selected and if the weight of your trout matches, you get to choose an envelope with a cash prize in it.
On the eve of this great tournament, now would be a good time to do a tackle tune-up. Check and replace your fishing line. Even if you don’t totally re-spool, you should strip off 50 feet or so to get rid of frayed line that can break. Lube up your reel, check your drags and replace if need be. Make sure your hooks are sharp and your tackle ready. Just think how bad you would feel if you lost out on a truck or big bucks because your tackle was lacking.
After Troutfest is over, the trout fishing will still be great until the snow begins to fall. Take advantage of it. Big trout from the tournament plus our holdover population will be whacking lures and baits for some time. Don’t miss out on the fall bite. Tight lines and good fishing to you all. I hope you enjoyed these articles and perhaps learned a little along the way. With a little good luck we will do it again next year.
Aug 11
28
TROUT BACK FROM VACATION
Since the full moon on 8/13, the bite on Big Bear Lake can, at best, be described as tough. Anglers struggled to catch a few fish in 3 hours, when it was the norm to have a limit in less time than that. Fisherman using leadcore went as deep as 6 colors to put a few hold overs in the boat. Those fishing shallower come up with a few fresh stockers.
It has taken awhile to figure out what happened—now we know! While oxygen levels and water temperatures have been great, the trout needed a break and went on summer vacation! As the moon went full, our trout left town. They brought in their cousins to house sit in their absence. These cousins courtesy of the DFG numbered in the hundreds of thousands of sub-catchable (under 6 inches) and catchable trout (over 6 inches). They took advantage of the bigger trout’s hospitality and literally took over the lake. While they took their time getting accustom to their new surroundings, the hold overs headed into deep water for a hiatus.
Now back from their summer break the hold over trout and fresh stockers are getting use to their new neighbors and the hood is in harmony once again. Trollers are finding a mix of these fish from 2.5 to 4 colors down. Bait boys and girls are getting the same results when their bait is suspended from 12 to 20 feet down. Oxygen levels are strong from the west ramp (23 feet) to the dam (46 feet). Surface water temps are at 67 degrees, clarity is at 9 feet. The trout are very comfortable and happy to be in their humble home again. Welcome them home with a party complete with plenty of baits and lures for our finned friends.
Aug 11
21
TOUGH SUMMER DAYS
With surface water temperatures at 67 degrees, and oxygen levels good down to 36 feet in the western third of the lake, one would think the trout would be on the bite. Not the case. Guides that had been getting several limits in an hour are having a hard time landing one limit in three hours.
All you can do is keep changing lures, vary depths and hope the trout will bite. It is just a matter of time before the trout get back on the chew.
One species that should be going off this time of year are the Channel Catfish. Strange, but none have hit the scales yet this summer. Water temperatures are pretty chilly, with the bottom at 59 degrees at the dam and 63 degrees at the west ramp you have to wonder where they are. Juniper Pt. is at 69 degrees, but no has reported a catch from that area.
Aug 11
15
BITE FALLS WITH MOON
No surprises this past week as the moon waxed into its full summer glory, the trout action fell off. What was a limits for all bite last week has become a pick at em’ bite. Switching out lures and fishing at different depths at various times of the day is the only way to put a few fish on the boat.
While we wait for the moon to fade, their other weather conditions that are important to remember whenever you go fishing. One of the basic rules of lure presentation is that when the sun is bright use light colored lure. When it is overcast, use ones that are darker in color. Fish also react to changes in the weather, high pressure insures a consistent bite, but when the barometer starts to drop fish tend to feed even more as they sense an impending storm and the natural instinct to fill their bellies before storm conditions change the water quality and disrupt their food sources. Now fat and happy it takes a few days after the stormy weather for the fish to go back on the chew.
The current lake conditions are favorable for the bite to pick up once again. Surface water temperatures are at 67 degrees in the western third of the lake. Oxygen levels are good down to 30 feet and the clarity of the water stands at 9.5 feet. Fishing for trout from 12-25 feet will put fish in your boat as the moon wanes away.
Aug 11
6
TROUT STAY ON THE BITE
As the dog days of summer come to Big Bear Lake, things are not what they should be. The trout are acting like it is spring or fall not summer! With surface water temperatures at 68 degrees in the western end of the lake and oxygen levels good down to 26 feet at the dam, 16 feet at Papoose Bay and 20 feet at the west ramp the trout have set up summer camp there.
Anglers trolling leadcore at 2 to 4 colors are not only finding limits of trout early and late, but inexplicably the fish are biting in the middle of the day. This type of bite is very unusual in the summer time when the sun is hot and high. Drift fishing with PowerBait in the same area has also got the trout on the chew. Slip bobbers are a good idea, but not essential, as long as you count and measure the line as your bait sinks down to the levels noted.
As we creep closer to the August full moon (8/13) the fish will get finicky once again. Look for fish counts to go down with little action midday, but good action early and sometimes late in the day..
Chris Costlow, Big Bear Lake 2.25 lbs.
It has been well documented that this year is a great year for trout fishing on Big Bear Lake. Trout of all shapes and sizes, from all over the lake have been hitting the scale all season long. As the bite continues, the question becomes what is going on with the other fish that inhabit the lake?
Catfishing has been slow so far this year. With higher lake levels and cooler than usual water temperatures the kitties are still hiding. Habitat that anglers could access in the past is under water now, changing the behavior of the fish and those who target them. With continued run off from this past winter and summer thunderstorms, only time will tell us if the kitties will come out to play this year.
Even though multitudes of bluegill have been put into the lake, they have not done well. A species that should and has in the past grown prolifically just hasn’t caught on and no one knows why. Continued stocking of these classic panfish will hopefully turn this situation around.
Both large and small mouth bass fishing is much improved this year. A mere three years ago the bass appeared to have disappeared from the lake, many wondered if they would ever come back. With improved habit, higher lake levels and the stocking of smallmouth they have. Earlier this year they were hitting jigs and plastics fished near Eagle Pt. The bite has slowed there now and the bass have moved into deeper water off the observatory along the north shore towards Grout Bay. Jigs and plastics cast and dropped to the bottom, with a slow retrieve bouncing along the bottom, have produced smallmouth bass in the two pound range, while their larger cousins are in the three pound class. Early and late in the day these fish will come up for top water action in weed beds in the same area.
Another species that has made a big comeback are the crappie. These scrappy little fish are everywhere. Easy to catch, these fish are great for young anglers fishing along docks and weed beds near the shore. A small hook with a meal worm or a piece of a nightcrawler under a clip on bobber is all you need for instant gratification. Mini-jigs bounced from the bottom up in these same areas also works well and provides for a little more activity as opposed to bait fishing.
Be it from boat or shore, get out on the lake and enjoy some excellent fishing for trout, crappie and bass. While you are there maybe you can figure out what happened to the catfish and bluegill too.
Jul 11
24
MOON VANISHES BITE REAPPEARS
Just as predicted once the moon waned, the trout got back on track and started to bite again. While the majority of the trout caught recently have come to the net, in the west end of the lake, anglers are still finding trout near the observatory. With surface water temperature at 68 degrees in that area, it is a little surprising, but oxygen levels are good to 23 feet and the trout are still there.
Oxygen levels are uniform from the dam to the west ramp, holding at 26 to 29 feet below the surface. Water temperatures range from 65 to 66 degrees in the west end of the lake. Trolling leadcore line at 4 colors has produced limits for anglers working that area. The hot lures remain the same with gold Thomas Buoyants and copper chicken wing Needlefish bringing in most of the fish. A lure that has been very good in the past is starting to get good results once again, purple and pink Dick Nite Spoons are a must for those running leadcore off their reels.
It is unusual for the trout fishing to be this good so far into summer. Take advantage of it while it last, for no one knows how long the strong bite will continue. With a little luck it may not change at all, making for one of the best trout seasons ever.
Jul 11
17
FULL MOON FLATENS BITE
Up until the full moon on 7/15 the trout bite on Big Bear Lake was very strong. In the afternoon prior to the full moon Brad Bush, San Bernardino was casting a small crank bait on the south shore near the dam, when a trout approximately ten pounds hit the lure fished on 2 pound test. Brad worked the 27 inch trout for 20 minutes, before landing it. Unfortunately the fish was weighed on a less than accurate spring loaded scale a fellow angler let him use.
Once the moon went full the bite died. Full moons in the summer time seem to have a greater impact on the feeding habits of fish than ones in the spring and fall. When a full moon rises, the fish feed during the night in the bright light of the moon, they remain active until mid-morning, and then literally take the rest of the day off.
The best time to wet a line is in the morning. West is best and will continue to be during the heat of summer. Some anglers have hooked trout to three pounds on gold Rapalas fished on the surface before 10 am. Anglers heading out later have picked up a few trout at 2.5 to 4 colors of leadcore on Thomas Buoyants and Needlefish.
Surface lake temperatures range from 66 degrees at the dam to 70 degrees off Juniper Pt. Oxygen levels are good from 26 ft. to the surface in the west and 20 ft. and up in the east.
Look for the bite to improve greatly as the moon wanes in the days to come and the fish get back on a regular schedule.
Jul 11
10
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD MIGRATION
Just like summer it took longer to get here, but the annual migration of our trout to the west has begun. While smaller recently stocked fish can still be found mid lake in the “triangle” most of the acclimated trout have headed further west.
Seeking the cooler waters west, which is two degrees lower than middle and eastern thirds of the lake, the trout have taken up new residence along “Trout Alley” (Metcalf Bay to Boulder Bay South Shore) and all the way to the dam.
Trollers working those areas with leadcore down from 3 to 4 colors, and Neddlefish in copper and nickel finishes have been finding nice holdover trout to 3 pounds with smaller fish in the mix and an occasional big boy to boot.
For bait anglers soaking PowerBait, the only way to go, is to suspend you bait from a slip bobber. Oxygen levels at the dam have diminished below 20 ft., while Papoose Bay is at 29 feet. Adjust your slip bobber at 15 to 20 feet to find the fish.
Not much surface action, except for very early of very late in the day. If you are working the surface, try to find an area where the wind has blown the dead weeds away, if not, your lure will constantly be fouled.
Ed Sullivan, Chino Hills was working a fly/bubble rig near the dam on 6/28 when he got into a nice trout, the 7.37 trout hit a wooley bugger on the surface. Ed was in for a “Really Big Shoo”, as the bow put on a 10 minute fight, testing the strength of his 4 pound test line, before coming to the net.
It is time to head west young man and grow old with the fish.
Jul 11
2
NEW BIG BEAR LAKE SMALLIE RECORD
Brad Matz, Big Bear Lake set a new Big Bear Lake record for smallmouth bass on 6/27/11. The 3.50 pound bass beat the previous lake record held by Gary Kalina, Big Bear City. The old record stood at 3.12 pounds and was set less than a year ago on 8/12/10.
Brad is the owner of snaprco.com a company that is famous for inventing the SNAPR, a hook setting device that is sold worldwide. Brad was curious when he arrived at the Big Bear Marina/Big Bear Municipal Water Dist. Official Weigh Station at 5:00 pm on the 27th. Not sure what the fish would weigh and not allowing himself to contemplate a lake record. Brad said, “Here we go”, as he laid the smallie in the scale basket.
As the scale read 3.50 Brad exclaimed, “Wow, that’s a nice one…what is the lake record?” As I turned to reveal the lake record board, he couldn’t believe his eyes! “Congratulations Brad you have a new lake record!”
Brad was so happy, because not only did he have a new lake record, he caught the record fish on a new jig he is developing for his company Snaprco. The jig is called the Aquatic Predator, and should be a big seller in the bassin’ market. The jig is not yet available to bass anglers, but you can bet it will be very soon.
All Big Bear Lake Records can be found at www.bigbearmarina.com, or stop by the marina and check out the lake record wall of fame. No lake record for bluegill has been established yet, and the crappie record at 1.26 pounds could be an easy one to beat.
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