Big Mike's 'Reel' Fishin'

The mission of the District is to stabilize the level of Big Bear Lake for recreation and wildlife

Home Lake Info Launching Fees Lake Activities Events Fishing Report Meetings Directions About Us Contact Us

May 16, 2012

The objective of our fishing report is to provide our lake users with up-to-date information and to help our anglers on what's working where and when. It is important for everyone to remember that fish have minds of their own and everyday is not going to be the same as the last, but being flexible is vital to consistently catching not just consistently fishing. It is also important to remember that the person providing this information is a fisherman himself and sizes and weights vary slightly from the truth depending on how many times the story has been told.

My super buddy Jason has not disappointed again with the stocking of the Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic bad boys. These trout were monsters with tails, which is new to me. I am used to the monsters that have worn off their tails swimming circles in the concrete run their entire life. Very nice fish, in very good shape, ready for you to give them a spanking. I would be willing to bet that I saw a Lake record swimming in the stocking cage this morning.

Trout fishing is back to the spring norm with the same dough baits, needle fish, and rapalas working every time. The magic trick to catching is to go fishing. Slip sinker rigs from shore and trollers are doing very well. Fish are kinda hanging center Lake from Windy to Juniper Point, but with the temps sprinting up faster than I have ever seen for this time of year, trying some spots towards the west is a good plan as well as getting the slip bobbers shinned up may be a good idea as we are stratifying as we speak.

Bass fishing is great everywhere on spinner baits and jigs. My buddy, the other 'Big Mike' Madden caught and released what would have been the new Lake record bass this past week. I love the smoke colors gitz-it tube baits, but I know that these bass number one forage is crayfish, so that is my two cents.

Crappie fishing is WIDE OPEN!!!!! on mini jigs at the docks and rocks. I still say white is the color but ten fisher-people, ten different answers. The worm on a hook trick is always the dollar for dollar most efficient form of entertainment for the kids when pan-fish fishing and guess what? It is all about the kids.

We just put in another large stocking of bluegill and we are seeing a lot of action around the shallows again with these fish. A worm or mini jig is always a good presentation. Also a guaranteed lake record was spotted in the batch for you trophy folks.

Catfish reports are slow coming in but it is time to put out smelly stuff.

Carp boys come on down because you are the next contestant. Carp are showing on the surface - still no spawn activity but when the sun is high the carp are floating up to bask.

Big Mike’s ‘Reel’ Fishin’

Historical Fishing Reports