Bear Lake Launching is available at all the boat ramps around the lake. These include the Utah State Park marina, First Point, Cisco Beach and Rainbow Cove in Utah, and the Idaho State Park (east side) and North Beach boat ramps. Courtesy docks are in the water at all locations. The lake reached its lowest point last week. Water is now being diverted into the lake from the Bear River, so lake levels will slowly begin to rise. Fishing has definitely started to pick up. Anglers are doing well jigging for cutthroat and a few lake trout on the rockpile in about 55 to 65 feet of water. Try using tube jigs or swim baits, 3 to 6 inches long and ½- to 1-ounce in size, tipped with cisco, sucker meat or Gulp minnows. Reliable colors are white, green and chartreuse. Anglers are catching lake trout by trolling with flatfish and jointed Raplas along Cisco Beach, Rainbow Cove, the mouth of North Eden canyon and off the Idaho State Park in 15 to 40 feet of water. Some of the fish are even deeper than that. The lake trout spawning run should begin any time and continue through mid-November. During the spawn, the lake trout dont feed, but they strike lures out of aggression. Target these fish by keeping your lures close to the bottom over rocky areas. We havent received any reports of anglers casting from shore off the marina or North Beach area, but with the higher water levels, fishing should be good in these locations the rest of the fall. Cast large (#5 to #6) spinners such as a Mepps or Blue Fox. Let the lure sink, and try to retrieve it where its running close to the bottom. Large articulated flies, in white rabbit fur or a sculpin pattern, will work for those using fly fishing equipment. Any foul hooked fish must be immediately released, so dont risk a ticket. When trolling, use downriggers with U-20 to T-4 flatfish or J-11 and J-13 jointed Rapalas. Pay attention to your sonar, and search for fish close to the bottom. During the lake trout spawn, the fishing can be really hot one day and really slow the next, so dont give up. Sometimes the fishing is better in the mornings, but several anglers this past week said they did better in the afternoons. Popular colors are chrome, white, and fluorescent yellow or orange. Remember the trout limit is 2 fish. Cutthroat trout with a healed fin clip may be kept; cutthroat trout with all fins intact must be immediately released. Large lake trout take a long time to reach large sizes, and while they are legal to keep, many anglers are encouraging other anglers to release them.
