Rainbow Trout
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
Blue Gill
Channel Catfish
Blue Catfish
Carp
Big Bear Lake Fishing is fun for the whole family. Everyone can easily learn
how to fish at any age and fishing is a fun way for families and friends to be together and enjoy the outdoors. Fishing is allowed from a boat or from the shore and there are many beautiful places where you can set up your day camp and fish. The north shore of the lake has the best spots.
During summer the fishing in Big Bear is excellent from before sunup to just before mid-morning.
In the afternoon fishing is great from early sundown until dark. A California fishing
license is required for anyone over the age of 16 years; these can be purchased
at various establishments in the Big Bear Lake area.
The Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic is held every May in Big Bear Lake and the
Big Bear Troutfest is held every October in Big Bear Lake. These two fishing tournaments
attract fisherman from all over California.
When fishing in Big Bear Lake you can expect to catch any of the typical lake fish pictured on the right: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Blue Gill, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and Carp.
One of the most popular shore fishing areas are located on the North Shore, from the dam to the West Boat Ramp. There are numerous places right off North Shore Drive (Highway 38) where you can park on the side of the road and fish from the shore. Juniper Point, on the north shore just west of the East Boat Ramp is another popular spot to fish. If you park in the parking area you will need an Adventure Pass.
Big Bear Lake has excellent trout fishing year-round. The best fishing spots on Big Bear Lake are the areas that make up the “Trout Triangle” on the west side of the lake. “The Triangle” is basically the waters along the south shore of the lake from about Gilner Point (the peninsular on the east side of Metcalf Bay) to the Dam, and from the Dam, east along the North Shore to the West Boat Ramp /Windy Point and then back across the lake to Gilner Point on the South Shore. The best way to fish the triangle is from your boat and if you don’t own one you can easily rent from one of the Marinas in Big Bear Lake.
For Bass fishing, most any weedy area anywhere along the North Shore is good and on the South Shore you will need a boat to get into the hidden coves and best bass spots.
The recently completed Boulder Bay Park has a fishing dock and is great place for families to play and fish from the shore.
One of the best baits to use is “PowerBait” and the best colors for fishing Big Bear Lake are Chartreuse, rainbow, pink, and orange.