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Updated June 4, 2026

BIG BEAR LAKE— Straight from Big Bear Sporting Goods: Bank anglers are finding action along the north shore from the observatory all the way down to the dam. As always, Powerbaits, nightcrawlers, and floating trout worms are the most consistent producers. Fish them on either a Carolina rig with a 3 foot leader or a slip bobber set around 10 feet. However, several catches on spoons and spinners have been reported lately, especially in the early morning.

Boaters are doing well on the troll between the observatory and Windy Point and in the mouths of the bays. Small spoons in reds, pinks, and coppers or wedding rings tipped with nightcrawlers dragged on 2 to 3 colors of leadcore have been the top choices. If you don’t have a leadcore setup, tie on a bite-sized crankbait that dives to around 10 feet such as a Flicker Shad, Shad Dancer, or Harvest Shad. Alternatively, you can drift with any of the popular trout baits hanging beneath a slip bobber.

WON Big Bear Troutfest will be held September 26-27 and sign ups are already possible at WONews.com under the TOURNAMENTS tab where there’s also a lot more info on this long-running event. 

CAHUILLA LAKE— Still slow overall, but far from dead. Julian Rangel of Desert Valley Outdoors told Western Outdoor News it’s been “slim picking” but a 900-pound catfish plant was delivered, and that should help. Shrimp has been the top bait for those guys, and there are some bass being caught on plastic worms as well.

CACHUMA LAKE – “Covering water with a spinnerbait or a crankbait has been the best approach for us,” guide Rich Tauber of richtauberfishing.com explains. Tauber also describes an excellent bluegill bite out in the 20-foot depths. They’ll hit small jigs, mealworms or nightcrawler pieces. Trout season is all but over until at least November.

CASITAS LAKE – Top guide Fred Klinshaw of fredklinshawfishing.com reports that finding shad is an absolute must right now, and that the bite is very fun for both size and numbers. Once they’re located, Klinshaw recommends a Damiki Armor Shad with a Viking Head combo or a Basstrix Swimbait tossed into the schools. Klinshaw will also throw an A-rig from time to time as well, and he’s been finding his fish from the shoreline out to midlake. Guide Rich Tauber of richtauberfishing.com also reports that finding shad is crucial, although he’s finding his fish almost exclusively mid-lake, and he recommends throwing Keitechs or Basstrix.

CASTAIC LAKE – “The lake level is rising, which is spreading the fish out,” reports lead guide Jim Taibi of 661fishing.com. Drop-shotted and Carolina Rigged C3 Baits in Neptune Shad or Ice Pick are Taibi’s top baits. He also predicts a quality topwater bite in the next few weeks, as the shad are starting to spawn. Stripers are still slow, but the shad start to spawn, that will trigger them as well. The lake is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

CUYAMACA LAKE – Lake regular, Lee Smith, told Western Outdoor News the lake recently received 1,500 pounds of trout from Jess Ranch and another delivery from DFW. He and his wife Cathy said fishing has been great, and they’re personally doing a lot of damage with Berkley Mice Tails deployed in the Lone Pine Area.

Click here to see all the reports in the online edition of WON