11-05-2003, 03:13 PM
BEAR LAKE FISHING REPORT 11/5/2003
[font "MS Sans Serif"]Surface water temperature is about 48 degrees. During the past week the Bear Lake area received over 15” of snow. This has significantly cooled off the water temperatures and has sparked the fishing for lake trout. As usual at this time of the year the “rockpile” has been a good spot. Fishermen are using ½ to3/4 ounce tube jigs tipped with cisco meat in 30-35 feet of water right on the bottom although some fishermen are catching both cutthroat trout and lake trout in water over 70 feet deep. Trolling in the same area has also been producing some nice fish. Downriggers set just off the bottom with flatfish or rapalas are the most consistent lures. On the east side of the lake along Cisco Beach fishermen have been doing very good for lake trout, with several fish in the 15lb category being taken this week. The best luck has come from anglers fishing parallel to shore where the water drops off from 20 feet to about 100. Be careful using downriggers along this area since the cannonballs can easily snag in the rocks and cause you to lose your whole set up. Other options include using leadcore line or monofilament with a rubber core sinker about 5-6 feet in front of the lure instead of downriggers. Again, flatfish in the U-20 and larger sizes and rapalas in the #13 size are the best producers. Try to run your lures as close to the bottom without snagging. Longline fishermen have also been picking up some nice lake trout and cutthroat trout off the Cisco Beach area as well as those fishermen who are casting from shore. They are using whole cisco on a harnesses and dropping their bait in water 25-80 feet deep. [/font]
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[font "MS Sans Serif"]All sizes of boats can be launched from the Utah State Park marina, however the Utah State Park will not be plowing the boat ramp since it is too steep for the plow. You may consider bringing some rock salt or sand just in case you cannot get your truck and boat back up the slippery ramp. Smaller boats may be launched off the shore at several points around the lake, however, a 4-wheeled drive vehicle is recommended and drivers should be aware of deep snow and some soft sand. The new “low water only” concrete launching ramp along South Cisco Beach has been a good spot to launch smaller boats in that area. The concrete only goes to the water’s edge right now, but it will make launching boats a lot easier on the east side of the lake during low water conditions since both the Rainbow Cove and First Point Ramps are currently dewatered. [/font]
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[font "MS Sans Serif"]The lake trout run should last about one more week. After the run both lake trout and cutthroat trout will begin to feed and the fishing should continue to be good. Bonneville whitefish should begin spawning during the last week of November and the fishing for them should be good until mid-December. This is an excellent opportunity to fish for a unique whitefish found only in Bear Lake. Pound for pound these whitefish fight better than trout and run anywhere from about 1-3 pounds. They are excellent eating and don’t have the heavily developed intermuscular bones that their cousins that live in the rivers (the mountain whitefish) do. They are easily caught by casting 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jigs along rocky shoreline areas. Also, the cutthroat trout and lakers will move in with these whitefish to feed on them and their eggs, so you have a good chance at catching a nice trout to go along with the whitefish. [/font]
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[font "MS Sans Serif"]Surface water temperature is about 48 degrees. During the past week the Bear Lake area received over 15” of snow. This has significantly cooled off the water temperatures and has sparked the fishing for lake trout. As usual at this time of the year the “rockpile” has been a good spot. Fishermen are using ½ to3/4 ounce tube jigs tipped with cisco meat in 30-35 feet of water right on the bottom although some fishermen are catching both cutthroat trout and lake trout in water over 70 feet deep. Trolling in the same area has also been producing some nice fish. Downriggers set just off the bottom with flatfish or rapalas are the most consistent lures. On the east side of the lake along Cisco Beach fishermen have been doing very good for lake trout, with several fish in the 15lb category being taken this week. The best luck has come from anglers fishing parallel to shore where the water drops off from 20 feet to about 100. Be careful using downriggers along this area since the cannonballs can easily snag in the rocks and cause you to lose your whole set up. Other options include using leadcore line or monofilament with a rubber core sinker about 5-6 feet in front of the lure instead of downriggers. Again, flatfish in the U-20 and larger sizes and rapalas in the #13 size are the best producers. Try to run your lures as close to the bottom without snagging. Longline fishermen have also been picking up some nice lake trout and cutthroat trout off the Cisco Beach area as well as those fishermen who are casting from shore. They are using whole cisco on a harnesses and dropping their bait in water 25-80 feet deep. [/font]
[font "MS Sans Serif"] [/font]
[font "MS Sans Serif"]All sizes of boats can be launched from the Utah State Park marina, however the Utah State Park will not be plowing the boat ramp since it is too steep for the plow. You may consider bringing some rock salt or sand just in case you cannot get your truck and boat back up the slippery ramp. Smaller boats may be launched off the shore at several points around the lake, however, a 4-wheeled drive vehicle is recommended and drivers should be aware of deep snow and some soft sand. The new “low water only” concrete launching ramp along South Cisco Beach has been a good spot to launch smaller boats in that area. The concrete only goes to the water’s edge right now, but it will make launching boats a lot easier on the east side of the lake during low water conditions since both the Rainbow Cove and First Point Ramps are currently dewatered. [/font]
[font "MS Sans Serif"] [/font]
[font "MS Sans Serif"]The lake trout run should last about one more week. After the run both lake trout and cutthroat trout will begin to feed and the fishing should continue to be good. Bonneville whitefish should begin spawning during the last week of November and the fishing for them should be good until mid-December. This is an excellent opportunity to fish for a unique whitefish found only in Bear Lake. Pound for pound these whitefish fight better than trout and run anywhere from about 1-3 pounds. They are excellent eating and don’t have the heavily developed intermuscular bones that their cousins that live in the rivers (the mountain whitefish) do. They are easily caught by casting 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jigs along rocky shoreline areas. Also, the cutthroat trout and lakers will move in with these whitefish to feed on them and their eggs, so you have a good chance at catching a nice trout to go along with the whitefish. [/font]
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