Kayak Fishing Big Bear Lake

Kayak Fishing Big Bear Lake, California, in the summer is a lot of fun!

If you've been stuck on shore fishing and becoming a little tired of watching everyone else out on the water catching fish it might be time for you to invest in a kayak.  Kayaking is a great way to get on the water because there are no California Registration fees with the DMV and the lake access fees are usually less than  motor boats.  You can often find used Kayaks on Craig's List or Ebay for a few hundred dollars.  They also have decent ones during the summer at Costco for around 500 dollars.  If you want all the bells and whistles like rod holders and foot propelled with nice storage hatches and seats then it will likely cost you over a 1000 dollars.  Still much less than any other boats on the water.  Sit on Top fishing Kayaks are very durable  and will last you a long time.

Our first trip out to Big Bear Lake on the kayak was a July 4th weekend.  We paddled out the night before and watched the fireworks from the which is an amazing display over the water.  I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance to go!  The next day we headed out fishing on the Kayak.  We tried trolling from the kayak which works decently, but you have to do a lot of paddling.  Pulling lures on lead line works the best at anywhere from 2-5 colors depending on the thermocline and the depth of the fish.  You can often find this information before you go of from the Big Bear Lake Marina website http://www.bigbearmarina.com/.  You should spool your real with the lead line and then attach about 20 feet of 8 pound fluorocarbon line as the leader.  Then you can attach your lake troll, Rapala's, spoons, or baits to the end of this line.  I'll post another blog to detail trolling at a later date.

When you get tired of paddling there is always the bait and wait game.  In the hot summer months as the lake temperature rises the fish migrate and stack up at the west side of the lake.  So head on down to the dam and grab yourself a big white buoy.  Don't be scared of the big motor boats.  Just paddle on by and tie off to one of the open buoys because you don't need any special reservations.  This area is great for fishing in the summer.

Once you are in position set up your rods with a slip bobber.  It really helps if you have a fish finder, but if not that is fine.  Watch the fish finder and look what depth the fish are marking at.  Usually anywhere from 15 feet down to 24 feet suspended off the bottom.  Set your bobber stop at these depths with a single night crawler hook and thread half a night crawler onto the hook.  Cast the float away from the boat and let the wind and current carry the float.  When you see that float disappear hold on tight cause you are in for a wild ride!  These summer trout fight fantastic.  Warm water conditions in the lake make it difficult to release the rainbows with a reasonable survival rate.  You may just want to keep a limit since you're bait fishing and call it a day once you catch your 5 fish.  If the night crawlers aren't working then you should switch to a small treble hook size 16-18 and put a small ball of power bait on.  This also works very well.

Don't forget to stop by the East or West Launch facilities for a boat inspection and to buy a day pass on the lake which is $15 or a yearly pass which is $45.  I usually get the yearly pass since you only need to go three times to make it worth while.

If you'd like information on how to rig a slip bobber then check out my instructional video here!

For a Big Bear Kayak Fishing Preview check out this video!

A Few More Pictures of really nice hold over rainbows.

Good Luck Fishing!

Big Bear Lake Early April Rainbow Trout Fishing

Fishing Big Bear lake in April had been hot!

With the success my brother and I had just experienced I thought I would head back to the lake my next day off.  I checked the forecast and it was looking like a great day for fishing.  The sun was shining and it was much warmer than the previous time out.  The snow was melting and completely gone from the South shore as well.  The snow was melting and pouring off the hills into the lake.  

I had arrived early but only a few fish were interested in biting and action was kind of slower than usual.  As the day progressed the melt water from the snow started to run off into the lake.  With all the construction going on with the new bridge being built there was a lot of dirty water running into the lake.  Right at my feet there was this large dust plume developing in the water and extending out from shore.  I couldn't see into the water at all.  As time passed I started to see fish splashing right next to the shore in the muddy water.  The fish were going crazy in this murky water.  They were like sharks prowling in the ocean for unsuspecting prey.  They were so close to shore though I had trouble presenting a jig to them.  

I set up a bobber with a very short line about 24 inches long and tied on a small hook.  I had some american sliced cheese with me and decided to try some.  I know, cheese, how elementary!  Sometimes the most simple techniques produce fish and you should never get too old to go back to the methods that worked when you were a kid.   

I left the bobber sit a few feet off shore and started casting a jig with a Berkley Power Nymph in grey along the shore where I could see fish splashing in the water.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that my bobber had disappeared.  I reached down and grabbed the other rod and set the hook on a feisty rainbow trout.  After setting up again I soon had my jig rod bent over with a large rainbow that had inhaled the Berkley Power Nymph.  The Rainbows stayed very active through the day and I kept catching fish after fish.  

I noticed a fish that was splashing and splashing by my feet.  It seemed odd that he was staying there for so long.  I finally reached down into the murky water and grabbed a hold of some old fishing line.  I could feel the fish tugging on this line.  It turns out he was snagged on the fishing line.  I pulled the fish in and untangled him.  After unraveling the trapped fish I set her free to live another day.  She is pictured below struggling in the muddy water.

I ended up taking a limit of rainbows home for some excellent eating and to share with some good friends

Big Bear Lake Mini Jigs for Rainbow Trout - April

Big Bear Spring fishing is usually pretty good in the beginning of April.

I was post call after a long night in the VA hospital and my brother was done working the night shift in the ER.  He called me up and asked how the fishing had been lately.  I told him pretty good and I could guarantee him some action.  You see my brother Dallas and I have grown up fishing together, but now that he has better things to do he'll only come fishing with me if I can guarantee him we will be catching rather than getting a big skunk!  It was already around 2 PM so we got things together and headed up for an evenings fishing.

Since we didn't have much time and it was mid week nobody was fishing by the dam.  So we jumped out of the car and headed down on the North side of the dam.  It was quite COLD and something was blowing in, but we got straight to fishing.  We both tied on a small mini jig lure in yellow and white and started fishing the shore.  I cast out the jig and let it sink down for a ten count.  I slowly reeled it in with a slight bouncing action on each cast.  Then I got a hit.  A rainbow trout slammed the jig and took a run, leaping out of the water and creating all kinds of excited laughter.  The beautiful rainbow was soon in hand and released after a quick picture. 

                                                                                                               Had to Keep This one       

The action continued to heat up with my brother hooking up as well on a few nice rainbows.  We decided to see what was swimming around the South side of the dam so we packed up quick and walked over the bridge.  We could see the fish swimming around near the dam and along the rock wall of the shore.  One of these fish soon decided to take a chomp out of Dallas' jig.  After a short battle with this worthy opponent the fisherman and fish were posing for a picture. 

As the sun sank in the sky and more dark clouds moved in the temperature plummeted.   With the dark coming the fish were becoming more difficult to convince to bite.  We decided to avoid frost bite ourselves and head back down the hill.    

Turned out to be an awesome after work fishing trip and it was back to work the next day!

Big Bear Lake Rainbow Trout Fishing the end of March

Headed back to Big Bear Lake for some more Rainbow Trout Action!  

Started on the North Side of the dam and only caught one rainbow trout on a slip bobber with a night crawler at 12 feet down.  I looked over to the other side where I had fallen into the water a few weeks earlier.  The snow had now melted back and was no longer hanging out over the water looking slightly less dangerous.  I could hear the fish calling, so I decided to pack things up and head over to the other side.

I made my way down the snowy embankment carefully with my fishing gear and got into a somewhat safe position to be fishing from. Once in position I rigged up a couple of slip bobbers and night crawlers with varying depths anywhere from 8-15 feet in depth.  A short time elapsed before the bobbers started systematically disappearing and I pulled in a few nice fat rainbows.  It was a beautiful sunny day and once again caught my limit of big rainbows for the smoker.  Yum, love smoked rainbow trout!  Will post how I make smoked rainbow trout a little later.

TIP FOR THE DAY!  If the fish down seem to be biting well on the slip bobber try varying the depth.  Also cast that float as far out into the lake as you can to get it where the hungry fish are waiting!  Good Luck out there.

No near death experiences this time to share about.

EXTREME FISHING - Big Bear Lake Spring Rainbow Trout Fishing

Big Bear Lake Spring Rainbow Trout Fishing

Spring has arrived in Southern California and one of the most exciting fishing opportunities to be found is the Fabulous Rainbow Trout Fishing starting in MARCH and going right on through MAY.  Starting usually in the first few weeks of March the large spawning rainbow trout will start to find there ways to the streams that run into the lake.  While fishing for these fish in or near the streams is illegal you can usually find them close to the shore around the lake.  They will swim by looking for any trickle of water running into the lake.  I've even seen them leap out of the water right onto the rocks where a small trickle was entering the lake.

One of the best ways to catch these fish is using a yellow and white mini jig or crappie jig.  Use a light action rod with four pound test and a 1/32nd ounce jig.  Cast it out and let it sink down for ten seconds.  Then slowly reel it in with a small bouncing action.  Wait for the rainbows to chase this presentation right to shore and hold on.  Strikes can be violent and sometimes really soft, so pay attention.  Tipping the crappie jig with a meal worm sometimes helps.

There I was early in the morning standing on the side of the lake.  I could see fish swimming near the shore, but they really weren't that interested.  It was a slow morning and I only ended up landing one fish, so I decided to try the other side of the lake.  There was a huge snow pile on the other side that was still overhanging the water.  It looked pretty dangerous which was good for me because no one else was fishing there.  I went around to the other side and slowly worked my way down the mound of snow.  I toed my foot holds one at a time on this steep bank and carved out a platform for myself to stand on.  I then created steps down closer to the water to net any possible fish I'd catch.

Turns out that I made an EXCELLENT choice as my bobber vanished within a few moments of casting it out.  I had a slip bobber rig out with a night crawler sitting from 12-15 feet down in the water column.  The fish kept coming and it was turning out to be an excellent day fishing.

THEN IT HAPPENED!!!!    As I was making my way down the steps the snow drift broke off and I fell into the FRIGID WATER up to my waist.  I was now stuck waist deep with nothing but a shear cliff of snow and ice above me to try to climb out on.  I clawed my hands into the snow and with all my strength pulled myself out of the water.  To this day I have no idea how I was able to pull myself out.  Check the pictures out.

It wasn't too cold out so I just kept on fishing and dried off slowly.  Caught my limit of 5 nice rainbow trout and released a few more to grow up for another day.  We'll Chalk that one up for another crazy adventure with the Fishing Doctor!

My Fishing Platform on the Snow Bank

 Where I fell in and the chunk that fell in with me.  Notice the angle, straight down!

The Days Great Catch Well Worth the Effort!

Kayak Fishing Big Sur on the Central California Coast

I had read about fishing BIG SUR for months online and it was my first chance to go.  I had my kayak, fish finder, GPS and a few sturdy rods to help me catch some fish.  Everything I read seemed like it was impossible not to catch lots of fish off the Big Sur Coast.  The forecast was for big wind and bigger waves, but the sea wasn't quite so angry past the shore break.  My wife and I suited up in our wet suits and stood on the beach watching for any patterns to the waves that were crashing on the beach.  This seemed a little tricky being our first time out on the BIG WATER!  After waiting we chose our moment carefully and paddled furiously to get out past the shore break before we became its breakfast. We made it past the break and headed out to the Bull Kelp we could see from shore.  The swell was about 8 feet high and we were rolling up and down in our Pro2 Tandem Malibu Kayak.  It wasn't long before I started to feel a little sick.  This was my first experience of true Sea Sickness.  I was severely debilitated and it ruined my fishing ability.  I couldn't even change hooks.  After puking my guts out three times in a row I got lucky and caught one undersized ling cod on a large white scampi.  I think I chummed the waters with breakfast from earlier that morning at Tree Bones Resort.  It was a sunny beautiful day and the winds stayed low.  We headed in early though as I was sick and we weren't catching anything anyways.   I was shocked... seemed like my Big Sur dreams were dashed, but there was always the next day!

Day #2 headed back to the same fishy spot for a second attempt armed with ocean defense... a Scopolamine patch behind my ear.  OH MAN! fishing is 100% better when you are not sick.  The weather was great and  I was trying different lures, moving to different spots and found out the fish really just wanted something simple.  A good ole Shrimp Fly Rig with a strip of squid on it.  We started hauling in the rockfish one after another.   There were a lot of different species as well showing up.  We caught black and yellows, gophers, a big ling cod, a cabezon, and black rockfish.  These fish were located by moving around in the bull kelp and dropping the rig to the bottom and holding it still until you felt a hit.  The bites would come within a matter of seconds of hitting the bottom usually.  After catching a few fish in a spot it was time to move to the next for more action.  The only problem was getting snagged here and them and losing a few rigs to the bottom.  If you are going plan on bringing enough tackle to last you the trip.  Fishing was very consistent and then I hooked into something bigger.  It was pulling hard and actually gave me a good run as it took off back down to the bottom.  The entertaining battle ended with my first legal ling cod sitting on my lap.  What a cool looking fish.  After filling our stringer we headed back with the Central Coast delights.  We had a great day and I knew I would be back for more soon!

Hope you guys enjoyed the post.  If you have any questions about Kayak Fishing the Central Coast let me know and I'll hook you up with some information. 

This is an amazing place to go see.  We really enjoy staying at the Tree Bones Resort with complimentary breakfast.  It is very nice Glamping in Yurts right on the coast.  They also have a few camping spots on the property.