Big bear troutfest

[DANNY SMOKIN JIGZ]

Good Morning FNN,
i am planning on participating in the 2014 Troutfest event and was curious on your reviews. I am debating on either walking the shorline or float tubing the lake. If anyone has any experience with either itd be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and tight lines.
-Danny

[iPhish]

I too am fishing the tourney. Big Bear is mainly a trolling lake. From the reports I've seen fish are scattered around west end of lake. Smaller spoons been working really well. So I'd say float tube is going to be most productive. I'm trolling so I have a boat and am by myself. Maybe you want to try on your own Saturday and if you'd like to partner up on my boat Sunday I'd be interested. PM me your contact info and I'll reach out to you tonight. I'm heading to BBL tomorrow morning and will be there for Fridays meeting. ---Michael

[Trout Daddy]

Danny

There is not any trout in so cal this year. No trout season either, LOL!

[dattack]

So how was the tournament?

[Jez]

From what I experienced, it was fairly slow. I fished both mornings 630am start, caught 2 in the first 40 minutes trolling, and then the bite died. When I weighed in Saturday, quite a few people were disappointed. I'd say the average was 2 fish per person. Most of them 1lb. Sunday morning was the same result. I worked every possible lure that normally produces fish up here. Worked in slip bobbers to no avail. I frequent BBL quite often, and this was pretty rough. The weather was great, but I heard from a local guide that when the Santa Anas blow fishing is tough. (winds from the east.. catchings the least - winds from the West..fishing's the best). Largest fish was 7.75lb.

[JAG107]

Thanks for the report, Jez. It's always hard to find TroutfesT reports on here. Were the fish all mostly coming from the west end still?
This tournament bite has been typical the past 2 years I have fished it. The pre-tourney hype is crazy sometimes, only leading to severe disappointment to many anglers at the scales. It's tough getting beat up on the water for 8 hours 2 days in a row for maybe 2-5lbs of fish. Last year the wind was horrible on Saturday, and not as bad but still rough on Sunday. 2 years ago I managed a sat. limit of 5.6lbs, and only 2 fish stocker size on Sunday. Last year I did worse. All trolling. When I saw the weather pattern coming up, I decided to skip this year. The past 2 years have had Santa Anas, with 2012 having temps over 110+ down the hill during the week before and during the tourney. Honestly maybe they should move this tournament to July or August when the bite is better, and just tell the personal watercraft and wakeboarders to take a weekend off. I wonder if the bite is better at the other tourneys they have during the spring?

[DANNY SMOKIN JIGZ]

The bite has been good at north shore on assorted mini jigs tipped with a mealworm. Also saw a few people soaking powerbait with about a 3 foot leader scoring some fish. The average fish is only about 1-2 lbs.

[GdHkSet1]

Sorry off subject- when does fishing season end up at BB-launching a boat...?
Thanks

[HBAR]

Thanks for the report, Jez. It's always hard to find TroutfesT reports on here. Were the fish all mostly coming from the west end still?
This tournament bite has been typical the past 2 years I have fished it. The pre-tourney hype is crazy sometimes, only leading to severe disappointment to many anglers at the scales. It's tough getting beat up on the water for 8 hours 2 days in a row for maybe 2-5lbs of fish. Last year the wind was horrible on Saturday, and not as bad but still rough on Sunday. 2 years ago I managed a sat. limit of 5.6lbs, and only 2 fish stocker size on Sunday. Last year I did worse. All trolling. When I saw the weather pattern coming up, I decided to skip this year. The past 2 years have had Santa Anas, with 2012 having temps over 110+ down the hill during the week before and during the tourney. Honestly maybe they should move this tournament to July or August when the bite is better, and just tell the personal watercraft and wakeboarders to take a weekend off. I wonder if the bite is better at the other tourneys they have during the spring?

I fished the event for the first time last year, team mate and I weighed in 5 fish each 7.34 and 6.62 on Saturday, on Sunday team mate weighed in 5 fish I weighed in 4, we ended up in 2nd and 3rd places, my son and other buddy weighed in fish but not enough to put them on the board. It was the first time taking out my boat (yes there were some issues but they got resolved), and after that it was personally my best trout season ever. Wasn't able to make it up there for this years event from what I read there were like 100 less people at the event from last year.

[JAG107]

Sorry off subject- when does fishing season end up at BB-launching a boat...?
Thanks

I think the west public ramp closes this week or may already be closed, the east ramp will close in early Nov, check the BBMWD site for dates. IIRC it's pretty much over by end of Oct usually.