Bear Lake lake trout report

[BearLakeFishGuy]

So, since NO ONE seems to post anything about Bear Lake, I thought I would give a quick update.  The lake trout run is on.  Yesterday I caught fish trolling parallel to shore right in front of the marina in 11-16'.  Then when the shore casters showed up, I moved to across to Cisco Beach.  and trolled in 14-22' parallel to shore.  In both places I used lead-line to minimize snag losses of lures.  (I didn't lose any but I got snagged 3 times!)  People seem to forget so quickly when they don't fish Bear Lake very often.  Flatfish were used banging along the bottom.  Give the shore casters a break and move on when, and if they show up.  Very little pressure this year, but those that are fishing are all catching fish......and have been for the last month or so.   Personally, I've been up 4 times and we caught fish each time.  Nothing spectacular, but anywhere from 2-8 fish each time.  Sometimes jigging sometimes trolling.  Rockpile and Cisco Beach were the spots I fished.  Water temp was 58.5F.  Still really warm for this time of year.  With high water the whitefish run should also be good in many traditional spots with rocky shorelines.  I bet they will be late too unless it really gets cold quickly.  Think the first week of December to start.

[wiperhunter2]

So, since NO ONE seems to post anything about Bear Lake, I thought I would give a quick update.  The lake trout run is on.  Yesterday I caught fish trolling parallel to shore right in front of the marina in 11-16'.  Then when the shore casters showed up, I moved to across to Cisco Beach.  and trolled in 14-22' parallel to shore.  In both places I used lead-line to minimize snag losses of lures.  (I didn't lose any but I got snagged 3 times!)  People seem to forget so quickly when they don't fish Bear Lake very often.  Flatfish were used banging along the bottom.  Give the shore casters a break and move on when, and if they show up.  Very little pressure this year, but those that are fishing are all catching fish......and have been for the last month or so.   Personally, I've been up 4 times and we caught fish each time.  Nothing spectacular, but anywhere from 2-8 fish each time.  Sometimes jigging sometimes trolling.  Rockpile and Cisco Beach were the spots I fished.  Water temp was 58.5F.  Still really warm for this time of year.  With high water the whitefish run should also be good in many traditional spots with rocky shorelines.  I bet they will be late too unless it really gets cold quickly.  Think the first week of December to start.

Thanks for the report Scott, wish we had hit it on a good day, like you have been having up there. It's good to know there is some hope.

[MACMAN]

Good to hear Scott. We are heading up this weekend and was looking for this report. We have been geeking out on if the spawn is triggered by water temp, daylight length or some other factor. It looks like you’re in the water temp camp. My theory is the water temp at the depths the Mac live in is pretty consistent, so I believe they begin their spawn based on length of day and activity level is increased with lower water temps. I also believe this is true with big game. My opinion is just a guess. Is there any science to back what triggers spawn/rut in wildlife, specifically lake trout? We were up 2 weeks ago and found the Macs stacked up in deep water, but were just sitting stagnant. We could not buy a bite jigging right in their face. I suspect (mostly hope) this has changed over the past weeks- but if temp is the driving factor, we will probably experience the same frustrations. I guess we’ll find out. Until I retire, my fishing days pick me and not the other way around, so hopefully we get lucky. Looks like a good weekend to be out anyways. Thanks for the report.

[SkunkedAgain]

Scott, thanks for a very informative post... Sure wish I had time to get over there, but still trying to get the addition completed on the house and sure my wife would kill me if I went fishing before I got it done... So hope to join you guys for the whitefish this fall... Later Jeff

[BearLakeFishGuy]

Good to hear Scott. We are heading up this weekend and was looking for this report. We have been geeking out on if the spawn is triggered by water temp, daylight length or some other factor. It looks like you’re in the water temp camp. My theory is the water temp at the depths the Mac live in is pretty consistent, so I believe they begin their spawn based on length of day and activity level is increased with lower water temps. I also believe this is true with big game. My opinion is just a guess. Is there any science to back what triggers spawn/rut in wildlife, specifically lake trout?  We were up 2 weeks ago and found the Macs stacked up in deep water, but were just sitting stagnant. We could not buy a bite jigging right in their face. I suspect (mostly hope) this has changed over the past weeks- but if temp is the driving factor, we will probably experience the same frustrations. I guess we’ll find out. Until I retire, my fishing days pick me and not the other way around, so hopefully we get lucky. Looks like a good weekend to be out anyways. Thanks for the report.

The spawn, in my opinion, is a combination of all of the above.....and probably some things we don't know.  Weather patterns (atm. pressure) also can influence the the bite too.  I'm supposed to fish again tomorrow, but we'll see what the weather does.  Ain't no fun fishing in the wind and I try not to do that anymore now that I have the flexibility not to!