BIG BEAR LAKE – Mixed in with the continued consistent trout fishing at Big Bear Lake was an announcement by Big Bear Sporting Goods that a new lake-record crappie was recently established. That fish was a 1.774 pounder caught by local angler Tyler Durkin of Big Bear. He made the catch on a minijig and released the slab after an official weight and some pictures.
On the trout side of the equation, spring fishing remains excellent and that should remain the case at least until the first major heat wave.
“April is one of our favorite months to fish Big Bear because every species in the lake is stirring,” said Josh Cummings of Big Bear Sporting Goods. “The water is still cool enough to keep the trout happy and hungry, but it’s warming up enough to bring the bass, catfish, panfish, and carp out of their deeper haunts and into the shallows.”
Cummings went on to say trout are making their annual move to the west end of the lake, and most of the biters are being found between Windy Point and North Shore Landing. PowerBait, Mice Tails and nightcrawlers are working best. While shore pounders seemed to get the best of it for most of spring, boaters are starting to do better.
“Boaters are also having most of their luck on that end of the lake, particularly in the mouths of the bays and near China Island,” said Cummings. Drifting baits or trolling small spoons around 10 to 15 feet deep are the best ways to get bit.”
Warmwater species like bass, catfish, panfish and even carp are starting to activate, but it’s a little early and that fishing lacks consistency at this point. It’s always wise to stop by Big Bear Sporting Goods for the latest scoop before hitting the lake.
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.
