Big Bear guide shares insight from his fall playbook
BY SCOTT EBERHARD, Cantrell Guide Service
BIG BEAR LAKE— Based upon past lake data, oxygen levels will be great and water temps should be in the low to mid-60s, meaning the trout can be anywhere from Juniper Point to the dam! They can also be swimming in as little as 10 feet of water which is great news for shore anglers.
Trolling
In Early October, trout in Big Bear Lake are active and usually prefer the upper 10 feet of the water column. Flat-lining small Berkley Flicker Shads, Rapalas and Yo-Zuris as well as heavier spoons like Kastmasters and Thomas Bouyants will be effective. Remember, with all the boat traffic, you’ll need to keep your rigs fairly close to your boat so you don’t get sawed off or tangled by other boats, so adding a keel weight is a must. Lead core and downrigger anglers can drag those offerings from 4 to 10 feet deep as well as Dick Nite spoons, Needlefish (my favorite) as well as half a nightcrawler or a wedding ring tipped with a third of a ‘crawler or a Berkley Mice Tail. Cover water and vary your speed. As I stated previously, the trout can literally be anywhere in October
Drifting and fishing on anchor
Drifting can be extremely effective in October. This can be done with Powerbait, Berkley Mice Tails, half a nightcrawler on a 2- or 3-foot leader (use a swivel to prevent line twist) with one to three size 3 or 5 split shots (depending on wind and depth you want to achieve). Setting it out 15 to 30 feet from your rod tip is a great way to go. Experiment with weight and distance to establish a pattern. Anchored boats can fish the same baits, just under a Stanley’s slip bobber, as well as working minijigs or casting and retrieving your favorite trout spoons/cranks/spinners. Remember to stay in the upper 10 feet of the water column!
Shore pounding
Keep in mind that trout in October could be anywhere on Big Bear Lake from the dam to Juniper Point and EaglePoint, and they may even be showing all the way east to Stanfield cutoff. Weeds are usually not an issue by October, so Carolina-rigging standard baits will shine. If you’re fishing the west end of the lake, you’ll want to vary leader lengths from 2 to 4 feet, maybe even five feet as a rule. When fishing from Windy Point to the east, 1- to 3-foot leader lengths are best. Experiment with leader lengths and casting distance. You’d be surprised at how close to shore the fish can be in October.
Scott Eberhard of Cantrell Fishing Guide Service (BigBearFishing.net) guides on Big Bear Lake, and he’s the primary source of info in Big Bear Lake reports found in WON.
