Even as water conditions change, trout fishing on Big Bear Lake remains strong. Surface water temperatures have jumped to 58 degrees at the west end and a toasty 64 degrees on the east end. With bottoms temps 56 and 61 degrees respectively, west to east the lake is turning over. The summer maturation or "turning over" simply means the top is now warmer than the bottom. As this process occurs the water is a little stained, but clears rapidly. Oxygen levels are still high top to bottom and the fish are every where throughout the lake with the except of the warm east end.

Trolling lead core line, as always, remains the number one way to land your limit and possibly a trophy sized bow courtesy of the May Trout Classic. Many large fish are still available from boat or shore, fish from 5 to 7 pounds have been brought in this past week. 2 to 4 colors of lead core in the water have produced the most fish. The hottest lures are Rapalas and Buoyants in gold, red and brown color pattterns. Flat lining a Rapala on straight mono will still get the job done.

Shore fishing remains good along the North Shore at Windy Pt. in the middle of the lake and near the dam on the west end. Use a sliding egg sinker system and present Eagle Claw Nitro, or an inflated night crawler off the bottom for some good action along the shore. Be sure to vary leader length from 2 to 4 feet until you find the zone the fish are feeding in.

Al Roberts of Big Bear Lake landed a 4 lb. 10 oz. Rainbow of Old Ski Beach going all the way down to 6 colors with a Rapala.