Strong winds prevailed on Big Bear Lake this past week and its effect has slowed the trout bite from a torrid pace to more relaxed mode. The weather forecast calls for mild Santa Ana winds from the east which will keep the trout confused for a few more days, but the weather will improve later this week as high pressure builds and the wind shifts back to the west.

Surface (63 degrees) and bottom (59 degrees) water temperatures rose a degree or two throughout the lake and oxygen levels remain high from top to bottom. The trout are slowly heading west as the water temperatures rise in the east. The most productive areas for trollers is from Lagonita Pt. west to Metcalf Bay along the south shore and from Windy Pt. to just west of the observatory on the north shore. Trout have been caught consistently at 3 colors in this area on Rapalas, Needlefish, Helgy's and Dick Nite's in chartreuse, copper, and fire tiger color patterns. Surface action is a little slow due to the wind and water temperatures rising.

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 near Windy Pt. and use a slip bobber rigged at 15 to 20 feet closer to the dam.

Scott Morgan of Whittier landed this 7 lb. 3 oz. Big Bear Bow off Boulder Bay while trolling a Rapala.