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Since I was unable to draw diddley in the hunt draws this fall and with the acquisition of a 14' aluminum this last spring I am determined to spend some time on Bear Lake this fall. I was able to have one successful trip near the end of April, but have not really learned the ins and outs of the lake.
Once the power squadron disperses and the weather cools down I plan on being up there nearly every weekend through Thanksgiving time.
Can anyone offer any advise for fishing this big blue beast? ( I am fully aware of the limitations of such a small vessel on the big water and never take any chances when the weather is uncooperative- well headed advise from BFT members this last spring)
Are the rock piles and Cisco Beach the best bets?
I really just want to pay my dues by spending quite a bit of time on the water and learn as I go. I am not looking for anyones secrets, just a friendly point in the right direction.
Has anyone had any success fishing the north shore near where St. Charles creek flows into the lake?
Thanks in advance for any advise you can offer. BFT has been a great resource.
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It's an awesome place, I think it's one of the most challenging places to learn to fish, but the rewards are unreal..not many places that average 2/3 pound native cuts left to fish! Best cutthroat fishery in the state IMO, strawberry doesn't even come close to the size of fish people catch on a daily basis!
Fall is my favorite time for many reasons, weather, sunrises, awesome fishing and lack of people are the main ones!
Swing into the shop, it's right in town at the the three way stop, we are happy to help as much as we can, we have a great selection of bear lake specific tackle and can give you a bunch of free tips/pointers.. The website is usually updated weekly with reports/hotspots etc...www.fishingbearlake.com look under fishing reports...
Best of luck to you, and I'm sure I'll see you on the water!
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Like mentioned there is a lot to doing well on Bear Lake, and I'm trying to learn it as well. I think your mode of fishing is important to know. If you're going to troll you need a rigger to get down deep enough and a finder is pretty important as well. If you are going to jig, then the game changes and you can use a big tube jig with a piece of Cisco on the end. Mike will tell ya sucker works well too. Anyway you mentioned the best spots I know and I'll quit and let Mike and BLFG get ya more details they seem to know the lake very well. Good luck j
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I think you hit it on the head with the spots you mentioned, but I would add out in front of the marina from now thru October has been great in the past. Knowing your fishing method would help to steer you better, but regardless of your style there is common ground to consider.
The fish will usually (but not always) be right down at the bottom, so if you are a troller a down rigger fished within a few feet of bottom is usually where to start. If jigs are your game then use 3-4" white or rainbow colored tubes and tip it with a small strip of cut bait and keep it within 2' of the bottom. I'm a jig fisherman myself,but this time of year through September I would definitely give trolling the nod.
You mentioned you want to fish it thru November so if you do that you will be in place for some of the years best fishing. The lakers spawn in October and are quite easy to catch in September, the whitefish spawn the weekend after thanksgiving and into December (best eating fish ever!) and the cutthroats feed like crazy on eggs and who knows what while this is all going on, so there is always something biting usually.
Of course, this is only my method and I get skunked from time to time so take it with a grain of salt. I can't say enough about Bear Lake Fishing Charters and pugstones being your most valuable source of up to date info. They are strait up guys with a good track record and if there are fish biting they can steer you to them. Stop and talk to darrin at pugstones or call the local guide to get some tips. The lake can be a challenge, but the rewards are great and it's not that hard usually to pick a few fish up, this time of year especially(the Mack's will start staging and feeding for the upcoming spawn).
Also, the whole east side from the pump house on the south end to rainbow cove is generally good fishing with spots along the way that pay off better than others. If you have a decent fish finder, just look till you find the fish and common depth and keep the lure in that zone. My fish finder isn't very sensitive and because a lot of the fish hug bottom I don't see them , but I catch them anyway, so if your not seeing much don't give up, fish anyway!
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Thanks for all of the advise. I will definitely stop in to Pugstones this next weekend and talk to Darin again (we met briefly in the North Beach shop early in the summer).
As far as methods I do have a downrigger, good fish finder and a plentiful supply of cisco from the run this last winter, as well as a bottle of Pro-cure cisco scented to spice things up.
I have heard that when jigging with the white tubes and cut bait it is best to use the tail end of the cisco. Is there any truth to that are will any section serve well?
Does Bear Lake Fishing Charters have a web page? I may be in a position to swing a trip and learn from the experts in order to cut the learning curve if the price is reasonable.
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We do not run a website, but do have a Facebook page that we try to keep up to date frequently w/pictures and what we are catching. Just search Bear Lake Fishing Charters. Or you can call me at (435)890-4551.
Even if you don't fish with us we are happy to help where we can, I can show you a few things, Darin can as well, jigging is the most rewarding way to fish, especially as the different species start setting into spawn and stop moving about as much. We are carrying some new custom painted "Cisco pattern" jigs (designed by us) from canyon plastics that our fishing VERY well, also our new double trouble jigs are in stock.
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I've caught them using all parts of the Cisco, but the tail seems to hold onto the hook the best. The Cisco get a bit soft or mushy after you freeze them unless you salt cure them first and vacuum pack them, so I think that is why the tail works so well. It justs holds together a little better than the rest of the fish. I usually just eat most of my Cisco catch while they are fresh and cure the rest. Carp or sucker strips work just as good as far as I've been able to tell and hold up after being frozen a lot better, so that is mostly what I use here to tip my jigs with.
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Thanks for the report, and I will definitely share pics. I think I am going to book with Bear Lake Fishing Charters and takes some good notes. I think it will be money well spent and will make the rest of the fall that much more productive.
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Ya that's true that would be money well spent
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] I love seen them pics of them big old fish that come out of there