Fishing Big Bear Lake?
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We will be going fishing this summer at Big Bear Lake, maybe in the month of July. We visit Big Bear often, but we have never fished there. Also, I have only been deep sea fishing (and the last time I went was over a year ago!)–so basically, I know absolutely nothing about lake fishing! I need some help and guidance!
Okay, Big Bear provides a list of fish that are in the lake: black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill, carp, channel catfish, large-mouth bass, rainbow trout, and small-mouth bass. They also provide recommendations on what bait or lures to use for each fish.
Now, we’ll be fishing from the shore, since we’ll be taking my autistic nephew, who is afraid of being on a boat. If we’re fishing from the shore, what sort of fish should we go for? What sort of bait and lures would work best? Also, do you use weights while lake fishing, or do you use bobbers? What size weights do we need? What size hooks should we use?
I am really clueless, and I want to get a headstart on my research for fishing Big Bear Lake. We obviously won’t be pros, and I’m sure we won’t know what we are doing half the time, but we are looking to have some fun, and catching a few fish wouldn’t exactly damper our spirits! Any advice or guidance would be so much appreciated!
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For trout put some powerbait on a treble, just enough so it floats. Put this on a 18 inch leader connected to the main line by a swivel. Put an egg sinker on the main line and toss it out there.
For Catfish and Carp try some stinkbaits. I suggest using chicken liver or Berkely’s Stink bait dough balls. Or use pieces of hotdogs. Just cast these out there with a fairly heavy weight and a dropper loop a couple inches up(this is where you tie to hook on).
For Bass I would use spoons, worms, crankbaits, really anything will work. Firetiger rapalas always produce a lot for me.
Try fishing by Gray’s Landing, that place seems to always hold fish.
Ok, so since your fishing from the bank, in a lake that is brand new to you fishing. I’m going to suggest you go for bream/bluegill. They are easy and fun catches. Use a light to medium pole set it out about 5 to 10 ft from the bank. The pole should be set up with a bobber, split shot weight, and …lets say #6 or #8 hook. Use live worms, nightcrawlers are ok, but break them up so that your not using too much, just a enough to cover the hook. Just throw it out, and weight for the cork to go underwater. If you would like to go for crappie, then set your cork about 2 to 2 1/2 ft deep, and throw it out about 15 ft from the bank. Something you should consider is if there is a current going through your lake, if so, thats a good spot to start if you don’t have an area like that, then look for some cover (trees in the water) That is a nice producing spot too. Also, look to see if you can find drop offs, the water will look darker at a drop off. Kind of like light green and then a dark green spot right past it. If you want to go for the catfish, use a medium rod, with about 12 lb test line, with some kind of meat, (I prefer chicken livers, nightcrawlers, or cut bait) and fish it on bottom. The pole will let you know when you got one. But whatever you choose just get out there and have fun.
The above posters are absolutely correct. It is great advice. Here is my two cents worth. When fishing for trout, make sure you get the FLOATING power bait. If the fish aren’t biting you can try worms off the bottom. To do this successfully you will need a little thing called a “worm blower”. It’s similar to a syringe (a syringe will work) you inject a needle into the worm and inflate it with air so it will float off the bottom. A treble hook makes your chances of being successful at catching the fish greater, but if you are squeamish at all, you may want to avoid it. Removing the hook can be a little, shall we say, messy. Again the information already stated on hook size is accurate. As far as weight, you want just enough to be able to cast a fair distance when bottom fishing and be able to keep the line tight. This might take a little practice, but generally two sinkers the size of a Skittle (the candy) will do. If the trout aren’t hitting on the bottom you can try fishing with a bobber. Don’t use any weights and attach the bobber with the hook/bait atleast 12″ below it. Fishing off the bottom you have a strong chance of catching trout, catfish and carp. The other species will be closer to shore, near cover and will be best caught with a bobber or lure. If you are new to fishing and probably a little impatient you may want to invest in a rod holder for everyone fishing. They are not very expensive and all you do is get the line taunt, place in the holder and watch and wait for your pole to get a hit. If you hook into a good sized catfish or carp, be prepared for a fight! Some of these fish get very large and fight like mad. While you wouldn’t want to eat carp, catfish is very tasty. Again, as already said above, chicken livers work well for catfish. They generally hit better in the evening and early morning. If you are going after these my suggestion is to use livers, go when it is still dark, fish off the bottom, place a small piece of tin foil on the tip of your rod and have a lantern. The light from the lantern glimmmers off the tin foil on your rod so you see can whether or not you have a hit. I have never fished that lake, however my brother in law has a cabin up there. He and my sister have four very young children and they always catch fish. Im sure you will have a blast! Tear it up, welcome to fishing and good luck!
I have fished Big Bear since 1958. I can promise you that there won’t be any trout caught close to shore in July. Sorry they (the trout) have to go deep (where the water is cold enough for them to live) and unless you are at the dam you are not going to get down to them from shore. All the boaters are trolling leadcore line by may 15th. Big Bear has a great bass population and sunfish bluegill and red ears are around all the weedlines, drop offs and close to deep shallow waters. The creek where it dumps into the lake will be a mosquito farm But lots of crappie there too and if you are staying near to any docks I would ask permission to fish from a residents dock and fish back toward shore for bass with spinner baits and top water baits (even under the docks) jigging a swimbait and walking it around every dock I could.