August is typically the hardest month of the year to catch a trout on Big Bear Lake, but this is far from a typical year. The bite is still strong despite high water temps, however the trout are restricted to the cooler water near the dam. The oxygen levels are keeping them within the top 12 feet of the water column, so slip bobbers are a must for bait fishermen, and leadcore is the way to go for trollers. Night crawlers seem to be the top choice in both cases, but there are plenty of artificial options working if you’d prefer to stay away from live bait. The evening is most certainly the best time to hit the water, but the early mornings are producing as well.

 

Bass anglers are having their ups and downs on soft plastics rigged weedless including swimbaits, creature baits, and finesse type worms. Work the docks, rocks, and weedlines, and be patient.

On a side note, the annual Perseid Meteor Shower peaks this week. Our dark skies make Big Bear Lake the ideal place view the spectacle, so come on up and enjoy the show while soaking a chunk of shrimp or chicken liver and waiting for the catfish to bite.