How to Fish Big Bear Lake: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

20% Off Rapala and VMC, Through 06/17. Save Now

Big Bear Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Jun 1, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Big Bear Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	45-60	Pre-spawn bass transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, staging on ledges and near submerged vegetation while actively feeding to build energy reserves Fish becoming more active with warming trends, showing increased feeding activity especially during warmer parts of the day	Ledges adjacent to potential spawning flats, particularly on the north side of the lake as noted in recent reports Areas with submerged vegetation, especially where it interfaces with depth changes Secondary points and transitions leading to shallow spawning areas	Bladed Jigs worked slowly along ledges and vegetation edges, as proven effective in recent reports Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) for actively feeding fish, particularly when targeting shad Ned Rigs worked with slow bounce/swim action around structure, which has produced recent catches	Bluegill, particularly important as pre-spawn food source as evidenced by multiple recent catches Shad, with recent reports showing success on shad-imitating baits	Dark Neutrals Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	48-58	Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning Moving between deeper winter holdover areas and shallow staging zones as water temperatures fluctuate Becoming increasingly active during warming trends, especially during afternoon hours	Submerged vegetation edges adjacent to spawning flats North side ledges where depth transitions create staging areas Dock areas providing vertical cover and shade	Crappie Spider Rigging Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')	Small Shad Young Bluegill Small Aquatic Insects	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-65	Largemouth bass are in spawning mode, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow nesting locations, primarily focusing on protected areas with firm bottom Males will be defensive and territorial around nests, while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones	Protected shallow areas near weed edges with firm bottom for spawning Transition areas near ledges where pre-spawn fish stage Areas adjacent to the fishing pier offering stable spawning habitat	Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and shallow cover Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around spawning areas Shakey Heads for pre-spawn fish on transition areas	Bluegill becoming more active in shallows Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	58-68	Crappie are moving into shallow pre-spawn staging areas and spawning zones, typically in 2-6 feet of water around vegetation and docks Males are establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, making multiple trips between deeper and shallow water Feeding activity increases as water warms, with most aggressive feeding occurring during dawn and dusk periods	Submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water, especially near shore Dock areas providing overhead cover and vertical structure North side ledges where they transition from spawning flats to deeper water	Crappie Dock Shooting Bobbers Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)	Small bluegills and juvenile sunfish Young shad Small minnows gathering in spawning areas	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	58-72	Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily focusing on bluegill near docks and emerging weed growth Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper resting zones throughout the day	Fishing pier and nearby dock areas with access to deeper water Emerging weed edges, particularly near depth transitions Secondary points with submerged vegetation	Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked parallel to dock edges Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for mimicking bluegill Texas Rigs (Worming) through emerging vegetation	Bluegill Shad	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	62-72	Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy Fish are moving between shallow cover and slightly deeper water, often suspending near vertical structure	Dock areas with access to deeper water, especially on the north side near ledges Submerged vegetation edges in 6-12 feet of water Transition zones between spawning flats and deeper water	Crappie Dock Shooting Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')	Small Bluegills Young-of-year Shad Small Minnows	Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-85	Bass are actively relating to submerged vegetation, using it for both cover and feeding zones during summer Fish likely establishing daily patterns between deeper weed edges and shallow feeding areas, especially during morning and evening	Dense submerged vegetation mats in 4-8 foot depth range Weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water Areas near fishing pier where vegetation meets man-made structure	Grass Jigs worked through and over vegetation Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for penetrating thick cover Frogs/Toads over matted vegetation during low light periods	Bluegill concentrating around weed edges Young of year shad starting to school	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Crappie	68-82	During summer, crappie are transitioning between shallow cover and deeper structure, with early morning/late evening feeding in shallower zones near vegetation and docks During midday heat, fish suspend near deeper structure like ledges or deeper dock edges, often schooling tightly in these comfort zones	Deeper dock edges with access to 8-15 feet of water Submerged vegetation edges, especially near depth changes North side ledges where depth transitions create current breaks	Crappie Dock Shooting Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')	Shad schools in open water near structure Young-of-year bluegill around vegetation and docks Small minnows relating to weed edges	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Big Bear Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	55-68	Bass actively feeding on shad along weed edges, positioning near surface for ambush opportunities Fish transitioning between summer and winter patterns, following baitfish movements and utilizing vegetation as primary cover	Weed edges near surface, especially where submerged vegetation creates defined ambush points Secondary breaks and transition areas where weeds meet depth changes Areas near man-made structure (fishing pier) with adjacent vegetation	Spinnerbaits worked near surface along weed edges Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) mimicking shad movements Finesse presentations (Drop Shot, Ned Rig) for numbers of smaller fish	Shad schooling near surface and weed edges Bluegill relating to weed cover	Chartreuse Colors Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors
Fall	Crappie	52-65	Crappie are actively feeding and schooling as they prepare for winter, moving between deep structure and shallower feeding zones Fish are following baitfish schools, particularly shad, and becoming more concentrated around key structure as water temperatures cool	Ledges on the north side where depth changes provide staging areas Deep dock areas providing vertical structure and shade Submerged vegetation edges where they intersect with deeper water	Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along depth changes to locate active schools Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around dock posts and ledges Crappie Spider Rigging along weed edges and structure transitions	Shad schools congregating in deeper water Bluegills relating to remaining vegetation and structure	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors

Winter & Ice Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	38-45	Suspending in open water near shad schools, with brief aggressive feeding windows Moving between deep water and shallow flats based on daily temperature changes and sunlight penetration	Open water basins near primary lake points where shad schools suspend Deep weed edges adjacent to basin areas Man-made structure like fishing piers that provide vertical cover	Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between twitches Blade Baits worked vertically through suspended fish Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved slowly near bait schools	Shad schools concentrated in open water basins Bluegill holding tight to remaining deep weed edges	Chartreuse Colors Natural Shad Colors
Winter	Crappie	38-45	Crappie are schooling in deeper, more stable water columns near structure, with feeding activity concentrated during warmer parts of the day Fish are showing preference for vertical movements rather than horizontal, staying close to identified structural elements	Deep ledges on the north side of the lake, particularly where they intersect with vertical structure Deeper sections near submerged vegetation edges Dock areas that extend into deeper water	Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') with slow, subtle presentations Damiki Rig worked vertically around structure Ice Fishing Jigs with small, subtle movements	Small, suspended shad in deeper water columns Smaller bluegills relating to structure edges Various small minnow species around vegetation edges	Chartreuse Colors Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Big Bear Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Ledges adjacent to potential spawning flats, particularly on the north side of the lake as noted in recent reports	Areas with submerged vegetation, especially where it interfaces with depth changes
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Submerged vegetation edges adjacent to spawning flats	North side ledges where depth transitions create staging areas
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Protected shallow areas near weed edges with firm bottom for spawning	Transition areas near ledges where pre-spawn fish stage
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water, especially near shore	Dock areas providing overhead cover and vertical structure
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Fishing pier and nearby dock areas with access to deeper water	Emerging weed edges, particularly near depth transitions
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Dock areas with access to deeper water, especially on the north side near ledges	Submerged vegetation edges in 6-12 feet of water
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dense submerged vegetation mats in 4-8 foot depth range	Weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water
Summer	Crappie	Deeper dock edges with access to 8-15 feet of water	Submerged vegetation edges, especially near depth changes
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Weed edges near surface, especially where submerged vegetation creates defined ambush points	Secondary breaks and transition areas where weeds meet depth changes
Fall	Crappie	Ledges on the north side where depth changes provide staging areas	Deep dock areas providing vertical structure and shade
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Open water basins near primary lake points where shad schools suspend	Deep weed edges adjacent to basin areas
Winter	Crappie	Deep ledges on the north side of the lake, particularly where they intersect with vertical structure	Deeper sections near submerged vegetation edges

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill, particularly important as pre-spawn food source as evidenced by multiple recent catches	Shad, with recent reports showing success on shad-imitating baits
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Small Shad	Young Bluegill
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill becoming more active in shallows	Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Small bluegills and juvenile sunfish	Young shad
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill	Shad
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Small Bluegills	Young-of-year Shad
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill concentrating around weed edges	Young of year shad starting to school
Summer	Crappie	Shad schools in open water near structure	Young-of-year bluegill around vegetation and docks
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Shad schooling near surface and weed edges	Bluegill relating to weed cover
Fall	Crappie	Shad schools congregating in deeper water	Bluegills relating to remaining vegetation and structure
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Shad schools concentrated in open water basins	Bluegill holding tight to remaining deep weed edges
Winter	Crappie	Small, suspended shad in deeper water columns	Smaller bluegills relating to structure edges

Bait Colors by Season for Big Bear Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Green Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Light Neutral Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Natural Baitfish Colors Pink Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Dark Neutrals
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Crappie	Natural Baitfish Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Summer	Crappie	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Chartreuse Colors Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors
Fall	Crappie	Natural Shad Colors Chartreuse Colors Light Neutral Colors
Winter	Largemouth Bass	Chartreuse Colors Natural Shad Colors
Winter	Crappie	Chartreuse Colors Natural Shad Colors Light Neutral Colors

Enter your email address to get 10% off your first order

Join over 100k anglers who receive our newsletter.
Techniques, tips and tackle breakdowns personalized to your local area.

© 2025 Omnia Fishing Inc. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy