Best Trout Bait With Winter At Big Bear Lake

In Big Bear Lake, CA, we definitely have the 4 seasons. Winter especially needs special attention to your bait because the water is so cold. Unless you prepare, your bait will freeze and not float, then sink to the bottom. Also the Trout will have a hard time biting your bait even on a #18 treble hook. Winter conditions are when the water is at or below freezing.

The fishing is beyond belief the colder the water gets.

It's almost like fishing in a barrel. I have fun catching and sliding the fish on the ice to me. In the Spring I dance the fish on the top of the lake and our local Bald Eagles dive to get the easy treat. I have to just break the line to release.

Now back to what you should do for cold or freezing water. Yes the fish are less sensitive when the temp is cold. So you can use even a #14 treble. You can even use the same pound test line of your pole for a leader at this point. Barely bend out the prongs of the treble to show outside your bait.

Just as all year, Rainbow Glitter PowerBait is best to use. So it won't freeze, I mix it with Zekes white trout bait and it is soft enough for the trout and not to freeze. Just when the water gets above 32 degrees, then revert to #18 treble and 3lb test.

Also the new Snap'r hook setter has been working incredible up here in this lake. This makes it too easy. I never miss my limit now. You can read about it on my fishing page in Bear Valley News, fishing report.

The bite for Winter is on now until late October when the water of the lake turns over.

If you have any questions about trout fishing, I'm only an e-mail away.

Big Bear Dave

Bass Fishing

Here is where I have excelled in my fishing skills. Bass fishing is really an art. Not as much an art as fly fishing. However there is many factors to consider to be sucessful.

You should know the habits of Northern strain Large Mouth Bass before fishing for them.

50% of an adult Bass diet is crayfish or sculpin.

For this reason I only use two lures. Both imatate food for large fish. In the Spring the large fish are hungry after a Winter being dormant. Everyone says at 40 degrees is when they start to bite out of Winter. I have caught some starting around 38 degrees. They also say moving water is not the place to be. However My best fishing days has been at the mouth of different tributaries. The Snow run off from the ski resorts is a great place.
The two lures I use are the weedless spider jig and a smoke salt and pepper grub (3") as a trailer and then the same grub texas rig. The action of the jig should resemble a crayfish and the grub texas rig imatates a sculpin. The salt and pepper I found to be the best color. the dark colors are hit and miss. The jig should be black, dk brown or simular.
I use a spinner reel and 12 lb test.
If you can not be at a stream mouth then under docks, beside weeds, and boat ramps are great.
Bass bite usually will be from late February to late October just before Winter. The size will be 2-5 lbs.
Remember Northern Bass only have about 3 months to grow unlike Florida strain that double each year. So if you catch one 5 lbs and over that sucker is probably around 12 years old. So our catch and release for Bass fishing has made Big Bear Lake an unknown gem for Bass.

Big Bear Dave
http://www.bearvalleynews.com/fishing.htm

Trout Fishing

Generally, any time of year is good for fishing for trout. Only in late Summer when the lake turns does the fishing slow down. Usually around October. During the year when temperatures warm the Oxygen level tells where the fish have to be to live.
Trout fishing in Big Bear Lake is kinda like fishing in a barrel. In fact, if you can't catch fish in Big Bear Lake, you better take up bowling! The main reason 10% of fishermen catch 100% of the fish is because the other 90% do not know how to set up a rig properly.
I intend to tell you things to cut down on the odds some.
First is your line. It needs to be fresh because olderline gets brittle and will break with the slightest fish. For Trout fishing on this lake and cold conditions, 8lb test is fine. The leader should be 4lb test and 3lb test as the water gets warmer. With this comes tieing a good knot.
I change my line every Month. Most will be fine changing anually.
Setting up your rig with about a 3 foot leader and a slider weight above the swivel.
Next the hook is important. Cold conditions you can go as large as a #16 treble and a #18 with warmer water. The reason is fish are less sensitive in colder water.
Baits are in another section.

Big Bear Dave

Big Bear Lake Fishing

I have lived permanently here in Big Bear Lake since 1985 and fishing this lake since 1956. That was when my Grandfather (Richard Beavers) brought me here and introduced me to the sport of fishing. Since 1985, I have become a much better fisherman and know this lake like the back of my hand. In fact so much, I have been nicknamed " Big Bear Dave".
In 1994 I had the pleasure of fishing everyday. I would religiously write my fishing totals for the day on my list attached to my fridge. I caught over 2,000 Rainbow Trout and over 2,000 Large Mouth Bass before I stopped counting.
I took the first seven places for the largest Bass caught all year long. That year, awarded me the title of "Bassmaster". Actually because of the warmer weather the trout fishing had slowed almost to a crawl, so I took up Bass fishing.
I still live here because computers and fishing are my life hobbies and fishing here is like fishing in a barrel. In this Blog I have started subjects for most fish here and tackle to use for Big Bear Lake. Remember this is just for the lake here that I know works well.