As the days shorten and sunlight fades, Big Bear Lake is starting to fall into autumn. Water temperatures have come down to 65 degrees at the dam and below 70 degrees as far east as Juniper Pt. Oxygen levels remain good from top to bottom at the dam with the levels just short of the bottom at the west ramp. Some folks have produced nice stringers of Big Bear bows from a pound to three pounds.


The key has been to use a variety of lures, while being flexible as to speed and location while trolling. Trout are hitting spoons in just about all finishes at one time or another from one to three colors down, with surface action coming early on Rapalas in gold/orange/red colors. One lure can be hot one minute and not the next. Patience and switching out lures on a regular basis is important. Dragging the same lure around for hours after you get one fish will not fill your stringer. Flashers and crawlers have caught some of the bigger trout lately, so be sure to add that method to your arsenal.


Big Bear Lake Marinas
Big Bear Marina, 500 Paine Ct.: 909-866-3218
Captain John's Marina, 39369 North Shore Dr. (Hwy. 38)
Holloway's Marina & RV Park, 398 Edgemoor Road: 909-866-5706
Pine Knot Marina, 439 Pine Knot Ave.: 909-866-7766
Pleasure Point Marina, 603 Landlock Landing Road: 909-866-8455
North Shore Landing, 38573 Northshore Drive: 909-878-4386