BBL 03-16 - Searching for cold-water bass!

[etaggart]

Hi All,

It's been so warm in Big Bear I couldn't wait to get out in the tube when I have the whole lake to myself.

Launched by B's around 6:30am. Water was 40 degrees, so not too bad. Air temp got into the high 50s before I got off the water, so it was a pretty comfortable morning with a light jacket.

I focused on the jetty rock and out to about 50 yards away seeing if any bass were lurking - barely a single tap - and the few taps I had were really slow/soft where the little buggers just wouldn't suck it down. Mainly worked wacky-rigged worms and tried a few lures.

Switched to a wooly bugger on the fly rod to see if I could tease any trout while second row slowly dragged wacky worm across the bottom. No luck.

Worked the Miss Liberty concrete dock thinking something might be holding there (Miss Liberty wasn't there). After a bit I had a hard stop on the fly, then it took off hard. Had a pretty good sized carp solidly lip-hooked on the wooly bugger. He fought for at least 10 minutes dragging me all over the place. I didn't want to lose him and he didn't want to come high in the water. Finally tired him out enough to net him and snap some bad pix. Looked to be at least 24 inches, too hard to hold onto to weigh and get a better picture, but a nice, slimy carp that was released to continue doing its damage.

If all goes well I'll be up again Saturday, may hit the observatory - holler if you'll be there.

Cheers,

Eric

[fishinone]

First I looked at the pictures on my phone and I was thinking, it looks like a carp!

Nice catch

[CrownTown]

Thanks for the report, going up there this upcoming Monday. Was going to try for bass, but looks like that may not work so well. Will also be bringing my 3 weight, kind of hope I don't get a carp on that though... ha. If you go Saturday please post a report!

[Slayinpigssince93]

There has been a big presence of carp at bbl lately. Wonder if they've overpopulated.

[Skyler]

Grab your bows gentlemen. It's about to be on!

[etaggart]

The carp are always overcrowded. And, last year the weeds were absolutely out of control. Previous years the lake managers had a weed control plan, but I guess they had to abandon it (and carp culling) for lack of funding. Too bad, the bass were really going strong for a while. Maybe this year and the next few can get back under control.

Anyone know the lake managers and their plans?

[jmytuna]

Thanks for the update Eric
Cant believe you took the tube out.
May still be early for bass, but they may be around shallow bays, rock that warmup some.
Not quite ready to put the trout gear away.
May be up in a couple of weeks but surf bite has been pretty good.

[Riverdale]

There has been a big presence of carp at bbl lately. Wonder if they've overpopulated.

Carp will over populate any body of water they inhabit, I dont kill any fish I catch unless i`m going to eat it, but man CARP SUCK LOL What do you guys do with the fish you Bow hunt ?Leave em for Coyotes?? I hope!!!