big bear lake -kayak fishing?
 

has anyone gone?

It's a place I've always wanted to fish on a yak, plus I live close. The downside is its 20$ to launch for a single day due to some water resi charge. If you plan on going I'm in, let me know... weekends are best for me.

Tubed there many times, never paid a cent. Leave out of Boulder bay or any other place where it is not private. Summer trout hang very deep, bass will be in the shallow grass/ weeds. If you go now the trout can be had in much shallower water.

Big Bear lake is not friendly to tourist boaters of any kind. Locals pony up for a annual permit that lets them get on the water any time they want. Visitors are asked to buy daily permits that costs as much as a good dinner at the best restaurant in town.

I have been pulled over by the lake patrol in everything from an float tube to a canoe. They never wrote me a ticket but were very firm in saying that if they saw me out there again bad things would happen.

I seldom go to Big Bear in the summer any more.

Bob

fuggedaboutit

I'm with Bob. Irvine lake is better.

Just did a weekend and spent a fortune. Not a friendly person in sight spent half the day getting inspected and just about got myself arrested. The police boat kept bugging us apparently their memory sucks as much as they do. Then with the wind and drunk boaters it was a nightmare.

Dang, I guess a lot has changed in 14 years. I lived up there for a couple years and there was never any launch fees or hassles from lake patrol. I had a little Sears Gamefisher with a 10hp motor and fished all the time spring through fall.

I don't recall a lake use sticker back then, but it's entirely possible I just forgot about it.

North shore between grout bay and the Observatory was always a great place for trout and bass. Bass were usually on the small side, but a lot more fun to fish for than trout.

It was pretty nice when it was in my back yard, but I'm not too motivated to make a trip up there to fish besides to refresh some memories.

just went there
 

I just went to big bear on Friday to beat the crowds for the trout tournament. I launched out of boulder bay and it was free. I trolled around the mouth of the bay for a few hours using mostly the wind to drift me. I had a few hits and caught two decent trout. On the way in just outside of the dock I ended up catching a crappie drifting some power bait. I stopped and anchored and ended up catching 19 on tube jigs... I agree with the rest of the posts the 45 dollars for an annual pass is a bit excessive. I go there as often as possible since its not far so if any one is interested in going let me know.

Army,
I'm in for a BBL trip, weekends only for me at the moment. Gettin into a crappie bite is always fun.

I might have to join you two TOO!!! ha ha
Medic are you Army also? I was just curious.

Nope, civilian paramedic. Let's do this.

Sounds good
 

Sounds good to me for sure. I will be up there on Saturday as usual. If you all want to meet up at boulder bay there is a little park there I usually put in at. Say around 4pm is as it is usually an evening bite there...:reel:http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/i...ing-smiley.gif

Oh yeah
 

Bring some tube jigs small white ones and red and white ones seemed the best. Didnt even have to put any bait on it just jig and wait for a hit.

This weekends no good for me (wedding anniversary) i'll be out of town. The following weekends good though. Sent you a pm with my info.

Go to Lake Gregory in Crestline. It is a San Bernardino regional park. There are no power boats on the lake. Just row boats with trolling motors and small sail boats once in a while. It's $10.00 to launch for the day. Everybody there are friendly and no hassles. I work there and we have a lot of fun with our customers. You need to launch at the boathouse. Unload at the boat house and than Park on the street. Be sure to say Hi to me at the boat house.

Does the $10.00 cover parking, or is there a separate fee to fish? We go to prado a few times a year and there are seperate charges for fishing, launching, and entrance to the park.

What kind of fish are there to catch? I have never been but may look into that for sure. Its hard to find good freshwater Kayak friendly fishing places.

There is no charge to park. only charges is to launch. There are trout, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and bass. The bass are hard to catch, but are big. I have not weighed anything under 5 lbs. Last Saturday I weighed 3 trout a little over 3lbs each. There is a trout tournament this coming Saturday. The county will be stocking a 1000 lbs of trout for this.

Thanks
 

Hey thanks for the info I may have to check it out I am always looking for new areas to fish. I grew up on lake superior so most of my fishing knowledge is for fresh water species. I will have to stop by there and say hi one of these weekends.

Question
 

Back home on lake superior we troll for rainbows with fly rods with sinking line and streamers or sinking flies and nymphs. Has any one tried this out here?

One of my go to ways for trout. Any lake will work with that set up. Full sink with a big ass woolly bugger or leech pattern. Ever try tying on a little nymph with flash or bead head to trail behind the streamer?

Bus Kid, More Info
 

What's the lowdown at Irvine Lake? I drive by there all the time.

all the info is here,
http://irvinelake.net/irv/vt.php?t=3

redsledteam has better info then me he posts reports pretty regular.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...ead.php?t=9466
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...ead.php?t=9237
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...ead.php?t=9175

Im up for a trip if anyone wants to go, missed out on the last one :doh:

Stinkymatt Yeah I have run a few different tandem patterns back home for trout... Wooly bugger first with a muddler minnow in natural color worked best for me back home around river mouths on lake superior. I love fishing there cause you never know what your going to catch from rainbows to steel head to big coaster brookies and the occasional coho salmon even depend on time of year.

HOURS
 

I usually fish from the shore by the baseball field. I get there around 5-5:30 am. Can I launch from there then pay once the boat house is opened? I did that once with my float tube. Thanks

If you have a float tube you can bring it by the boathouse have it inspected pay your $10.00 and launch by the ball field. Kayaks must launch and retrieve at the boathouse. you have to wait until the boathouse opens at 7:00 am to pay and launch. You cannot launch until your kayak or float tube is inspected.

big bear
 

Caught a few nice limits last weekend including one nice 4 plus pounder trolling lead core. Was worth the trip up there

Try a 3 way swivel set-up with an ounce or two of weight, no need for the weighted line. Check online to see what flavor of lure they prefer this week. A month ago they were holding at 12-15 feet. Easy limit in an hour and a half. Good luck.

Thanks
 

:reel:Hey thanks for the tip I will have to try it out. I hear they are catching them on slip bobbers. One of my favorite ways to fish for trout too.

New quest
 

Now I'm gearing up for some flounder, redfish and trout in eastern NC and getting ready to catch me some lake superior salmon and steelhead in Michigan. Any tips on these fishing quest would be appreciated.

Watch Vs on cable tv... Seems like all the fishing shows are geared down south and back east.... Have fun!

thanks
 

Hey thanks I will check that out. My buddy is a kayak guide there so I'm going to try and link up with him if he ever gets off the water lol.