Bear Lake

[Potsy]

I'm going to Bear Lake over the 24 th week I have a boat but no down riggers or trolling motor. Everything I have read says this is not the time of year for fishing up there. just wondering if its worth my time to try. its hard to keep 3 kids happy not catching a few fish.
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[BottFishCrazy]

I was up there for the first time on the 3rd of August last year. Again, not the best time, but it was worth my time. Landed 3 bonneville cuts at 5,5, and 3lbs and a laker at 6 lbs in a 2 hours time from 11am-1pm. all off the bottOm about 70ft of water. Not as fast perhaps as other times of the year, but there aren't many fisheries with as many big fish as Bear Lake so I took it as a win. Caught a few footballs at night also. [reply][/reply] East side of the lake off the rocky points is where I would point you. See special regs regarding the cutts. Also, If you have any troubles or need pointers Pugstones is the place!
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[Potsy]

thanks man I would rather fish than drag the kids around all day that eats too much gas.
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[gmwahl]

I live on this lake and fish it when time permits, not when conditions are best. This time of year is fine, it's all about the timing. Without a downrigger, I would go off the east side at Cisco beach, get over 45-65' of water and drop a 3-4" jig tipped with a piece of carp meat or dead minnow from the freezer at sports warehouse or pugstones in garden city. Drop this all the way to the bottom until the line goes slack, then reel it up only about a turn off the bottom(too high and the action is slower). Put the rod leaning up on the gunnel of the boat or in a rod holder and let the motion of the waves do the jigging for you. When they hit it is light usually unless its a laker, they seem to take it a little harder. If you miss the bite, keep jigging it even if you've pulled it off the bottom a long ways. If its a cutt, it will almost always keep nailing it all the way up to the boat. I've caught tons of them just like this during all of the summer months.

The east side off of Cisco beach seems best for me and the earlier the better. The mountain will keep the sun off of the water until at least 9-9:30. After the sun comes up it slows a bit but can still be good as long as the boats don't start tearing it up and screw it up for your jigging.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!
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