Bass in Big Bear Lake?

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Hey guys,

I keep getting invited to big bear lake by one of my supervisors at work. I haven't gone because I don't really like trolling for trout, and I didn't know if that lake has bassin it. Anybody know about that one? If it does have bass what do you use up there?

[npangler]

Dont Know about what baits are hot up there, but the last time I was there I did catch 1 bass so there are bass in the lake.

[William Pointing]

The lake is LOADED with small mouth. Try Roostertails and small worms. Not very big fish.

[Gator]

Hmmm....trout lake......how about the 4 or 6" Hudd................

[Oldschool]

Big Bear has both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The LMB are northern strain and react well to black jigs, white/chart spinner baits and purple or green red flake soft plastics.
The smallmouth are mostly in the west end and north shore. The largemouths in the east end and back of larger bays. The Eagle point area is a good place to start this time of year for largemouth. The north shore area near the dam for the smallies.
The bass are usually in the 2 to 3 lb size with a few LMB up to 6 lbs.
Tom

[hippie]

don't waste your gas money to tow your rig there. they have bass there but the bites not worh the drive

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Hmmm....trout lake......how about the 4 or 6" Hudd................

Gator.. Are you tellin me to try a swim bait that looks like a trout maybe? ha ha ha I was just talking to Kelly Ripa today about the Hudds.. You ever fish up there?

[William Pointing]

Hippie, your smoking crack, I've caught fifty bass there on some good days. Bad days are like any other lake. I've never caught a fish over three pounds.

[Scott Robertson]

I have weighed in 18 lbs there in club tournaments the fish are there. Scott

[Scott E.]

The fishing that some of the guys here are describing WAS true several years ago. Then we had a few problems, low water, destruction of habitat (weeds) pelicans, cormorants, and last but not least, a virus that infected the LMB (or parasite depending on who you talk to) two springs ago. It seriously hurt the fishery (almost wiping out panfish and severely thinning out the bass population). Mike Stephenson the MWD manager has been working hard to heal the fishery. Water's up, weeds are growing back, the birds have left for the most part, and he has begun a restocking process putting in thousands of bluegill and crappie, 800 smallmouth (small fish) last fall and some largemouth just a month or so ago. He was even talking on getting a variance from the DFG to have C and R only for the smallies, although he didn't sound like it was going to be approved. They did an electro shock one night a few weeks ago and only managed 10 bass (it was a little hampered as they didn't want to piss off dock owners by getting to close, but 10 is not a good number). Hippie is right!

Scott

[Oldschool]

Sorry to hear about LMB virus in BB, that would be devastating news if true. The lake being low is not an issue as the lake was a very good bass fishery during the 50's at 1/2 the size of the recent low level, it was still over 5 miles long.
Predator birds are always a factor in any lake and should not a major issue for a lake that is 7+ miles long with a lot of cover.
The lake should be in spawn period about now, so it shouldn't be a problem sight fishing the clear water. Big Bear is a cold water fishery, unlike most SoCal lakes, and requires some time on the water to become consistant at catching bass.
My advice is fish with a local so you don't need to trailer a rig up the mountain, it's costly in lake permits and gas.
Tom

[hippie]

Ive been up there a few times buddy lives near there so Ive hauled the rig up there to catch a bunch of sculpin i have caught a 3.5 there and alot of rats . I belive when they dredge all the weeds way they mess up the spawn there the drought too. it was a good bass fishery along time ago, but now it sucks like bills scales. when the last time you been there bill 5 years ago probably

[Guy Williams]

Carp fishing is over rated. Pete can't catch one.
Guy Williams

[hippie]

casn you say potato

[SoCalBassAssassin]

casn you say potato

Or corn?