Rainbow Trout on Big Bear Lake are in the lazy days of summer mode now. Bait anglers are getting in on the action early in the day and Trollers are seeing most of their action in the late afternoon.

For bait anglers a slip bobber rig is a must this time of year and should be set from 30 feet at the west ramp and the dam to a minimum of 10 feet. Drifting in a boat down the middle of the lake with a simple sliding egg sinker rig is a good way to spend a day on the lake. Be sure to use Eagle Claw NITRO, and inflated night crawlers for the best catches.

Trolling for trout is best with leadcore line. With leadcore you can present your lure at the levels noted above. Most of the trout have set up off Boulder Bay and are holding north of there towards the S.S. Relief and along Trout Alley depending on the time of day. They are hitting needlefish in a copper finish and CD Rapalas in gold and black scoring the most fish.

Summer time means panfish and catfish on Big Bear Lake. Crappie and Bluegilll are hitting in Boulder Bay and in Mallard Bay. Try mini-jigs in assorted colors or simply hang a mealworm or part of a night crawler 4 feet from a clip on bobber. Catfish continue to bite on nocturnal offerings ranging for mackerel and shrimp to stink baits presented off the bottom. Try the east end of the lake after the sun goes down.

Locals have picked up a few largemouth bass recently on plastics pitched at docks in the bays and along the shore. Look for the bass fishing to improve as this important fishery continues to rebound.

Eleven year old Matthew Denitz of LA caught his first fish while drifting along Rock Wall with his dad. Matthew was using UV Nitro when the Big Bear Bow made his rod go bendo.