Bear Lake Boat launching is currently available at the Bear Lake State Park marina, First Point and Rainbow Cove ramps. You can also launch at the inlet structure in Idaho. The structure is at North Beach State Park, at the very north end of the lake. Cutthroat trout and lake trout fishing has been fair this past week. Anglers have found the most success trolling on the east side of the lake, in 3080 feet of water, using crankbaits with rattles off downriggers fished close to the bottom. It pays to keep searching until you find some active fish. Also, with the warmer weather, it may pay to troll off the mouths of the tributary streams (until they close to fishing on April 15). Cutthroat trout may be staging just off the mouths of the streams prior to their spawning run. You might consider anchoring and then casting (flies, spinners or spoons) since the water depth is fairly shallow. Trolling can spook the fish. Additionally, vertically jigging using tube jigs tipped with cisco can work off the tributary mouths. Use 4-6-inch long swim baits in half to one-ounce sizes. Fish your jig slow and close to the bottom. White, green and chartreuse are reliable colors. The Bear Lake sculpin spawn will begin any day now and will continue for the next few weeks. Look for flocks of diving ducks along the shoreline and youll know where the sculpin are spawning. Cutthroat trout and lake trout will follow the sculpin into the shallower depths, so now is a great time to fish for them from shore. Water temperatures are still cold enough that cutthroat and lake trout can be in water as shallow as 35 feet deep along the shorelines. Try fly fishing from shore using large sculpin patterns or bunny fur flies on sinking-tip fly line. Or you can cast larger spoons, #5 or #6 spinners (Vibrax is a good choice). Work the lure as close to the bottom as possible.
Remember the trout limit is two fish. Cutthroat trout with a healed fin clip may be kept; cutthroat trout with all fins intact must be immediately released. Lake trout take a long time to reach a large size. While large lake trout are legal to keep, many anglers are encouraging other anglers to release them.
