Up until the full moon on 7/15 the trout bite on Big Bear Lake was very strong. In the afternoon prior to the full moon Brad Bush, San Bernardino was casting a small crank bait on the south shore near the dam, when a trout approximately ten pounds hit the lure fished on 2 pound test. Brad worked the 27 inch trout for 20 minutes, before landing it. Unfortunately the fish was weighed on a less than accurate spring loaded scale a fellow angler let him use.

Once the moon went full the bite died. Full moons in the summer time seem to have a greater impact on the feeding habits of fish than ones in the spring and fall. When a full moon rises, the fish feed during the night in the bright light of the moon, they remain active until mid-morning, and then literally take the rest of the day off.

The best time to wet a line is in the morning. West is best and will continue to be during the heat of summer. Some anglers have hooked trout to three pounds on gold Rapalas fished on the surface before 10 am. Anglers heading out later have picked up a few trout at 2.5 to 4 colors of leadcore on Thomas Buoyants and Needlefish.

Surface lake temperatures range from 66 degrees at the dam to 70 degrees off Juniper Pt. Oxygen levels are good from 26 ft. to the surface in the west and 20 ft. and up in the east.

Look for the bite to improve greatly as the moon wanes in the days to come and the fish get back on a regular schedule.