Big Bear: At a fish-full lake, reel in a $50K trout

Calling all anglers: Having collected about 120 inches of snowfall over the winter season, Big Bear Lake is ripe for some fishing. Shore fishing has been improving, according to a Big Bear Marina report, and on Wednesday, the two public boat-launch ramps on the 7-mile-long mountain lake will open up for the season.

The freshwater lake is brimming with rainbow trout and other fish varieties including bass, catfish and crappie. The Department of Fish and Game plants more than 150,000 pounds of rainbow trout in the lake every year.

Plus, Big Bear Lake at present boasts a depth of just over 67 feet at its lowest point (the average depth is 35 feet). By the end of April, the water level should have increased by an additional foot or two, according to Big Bear Municipal Water District (BBMWD) officials.

“A fresh influx of water naturally helps fish grow faster and provides a healthier habitat,” said BBMWD Lake Manager Mike Stephenson in a recent news release by the Big Bear Lake Resort Assn.

For a potentially really big catch, don’t miss the “Fishin’ for 50K Trout Derby” on May 30 and 31, which will offer fisherfolk the chance to catch a tagged fish worth a $50,000 cash prize. Besides this fish, nine other tagged fish will offer monetary prizes and Big Bear packages.

The event costs $35 per adult, $20 per child (15 and under). If you book stays between May 29 and 31 through Big Bear Lake Resort Assn., then you get free admission to the contest.

Contact: Big Bear Lake Resort Assn. (800) 424-4232

- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Rainbow trout. Credit: Big Bear Marina]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 11:12 am by Susan Derby and is filed under Business Travel, California, Contest & Sweepstakes, Deals, Family & Kids, Islands & Beaches, Los Angeles, Outdoors & Adventure, San Diego, Spring, Weekend Getaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.