Fishing Wiki - Bear-Lake

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Description (Edit This)

Bear Lake is the focal point of Bear Lake Valley, shared by Bear Lake County of Idaho and Rich County of northeastern Utah. The lake is popular and attracts anglers from miles around due to many factors including:

1. Access to trophy cutthroat trout including the 19 lb cutthroat trout that holds the Idaho state record, and to lake trout (mackinaw) that grow up to 30 lbs.
2. Fishing opportunities year-round for active anglers in traditional boat fishing, fly fishing and ice fishing.
3. Turquoise waters and clean sandy beaches.
4. Fishing at the lake as well as its many surrounding rivers, streams, tributaries and ponds.

Guides (Edit This)

 Pugstone's Ripples & Waves - Bear River Basin Outfitters
20 N. Bear Lake Blvd, Garden City, UT 84028

(435) 946-2855 or mobile (435) 757-9430

Nearby Lodges (Edit This)

Beaver Creek Lodge: Open year-round. Rates from $100/night.

Bear Lake Lodging: Largest selection of cabins, condos for Bear Lake. Rates dependant on property selected and/or number of occupants. Also offers RV space.

Bear Bottom Cabin: Popular cabin near Bear Lake. Great rates and amenities near the action.

Blue Water Resort: Official “resort” of Bear Lake. Rates start at $89 for members, $119 for non-members.

Location (Edit This)

Along Hwy 89 in Bear Lake Valley, Northeast of Logan, at Garden City. Stretches across the Utah/Idaho state line.
- 125 miles from Salt Lake City (to Garden City, UT)
- 164 miles from Provo (to Garden City, UT)
- 120 miles from Pocatello (to Garden City, UT)

The "Rock Pile" is a popular fishing spot at Bear Lake. It is located off Ideal Beach on SW side of the lake. The Rock Pile is about a square block in size and ranges in depth from about 40-60 feet. Locate it by looking for the cluster of boats which is almost always in the area. Fish over the pile, along the edges and out in the lake south of the pile.

Primary Species (Edit This)

Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout (Mackinaw), Whitefish, Bonneville Cisco

The following fish are unique to Bear Lake: Bonneville Cisco, Bear Lake Whitefish, Bonneville Whitefish, Bear Lake Sculpin

Special Regulations (Edit This)

To fish with two poles, anglers must have a second pole permit from the issuing state for the primary fishing license.

During the winter fishing season: ice holes should not exceed 18 inches in diameter. Those anglers dipnetting for Bonneville Cisco have no restrictions on hole diameter.

Hand-held dipnets may be used to fish for Bonneville Cisco year-round, but the diameter of the dipnet must not exceed 18 inches in diameter and must be a hand-held dipnet.

Daily possession limits are as follows:
30 – Bonneville Cisco
10 – Whitefish
2 – Cutthroat trout or Lake trout (in any combination)

Anglers must release any cutthroat trout with all fins intact or those that do not have a healed fin clip.

Bear Lake does not impose size (weight/length) limits for fish taken from the lake.

No fish may be donated in the field for any reason.

Seasonal Factors (Edit This)

Bear Lake is an excellent place to fish year round, with excellent scenery and additional activities complimenting the fishing. However, winter and spring months are the best for those anglers seeking to catch cutthroat trout, the lake’s most bountiful and trophy-worthy fish, as well as lake trout and Bonneville cisco.

Jigging for both whitefish and trout is most productive in January and February, when the lake may have an ice cover. (The lake freezes solid about every other year.) If there is ice, it is easy to get to prime locations and jig. If there isn't any ice, the best action comes from boat fishing.

Dipnetting for Bonneville Cisco is most productive off of Cisco Beach in mid-January when the small fish spawn close to the break on the beach. Throughout the rest of the year, jigging is the most effective technique for catching these little fish.

Spring months from February to April are productive for fishing and experienced anglers will find success year-round across all of the lake’s major fishing areas. However, inexperienced anglers will find later spring months, as well as summer and fall to be more difficult fishing months as tourists, families and outdoorsmen descend upon the lake for its many available warm weather activities that compete with fishing. Additionally, it is during these months that game fish stay deeper in the water where they are harder to reach.

Lures and Techniques (Edit This)

Consider doing the majority of your fishing at Bear Lake in the winter and early spring months, from late December to early April.

Trolling and jigging are the two most effective methods for catching cutthroat trout and lake trout at Bear Lake, while dipnetting off the shores of Cisco Beach is the most effective method for catching Bonneville Cisco in winter months (jigging is most effective in summer months). Others methods may work as well.

When the cisco spawn in mid-Januray, anglers should get to the lake long before dawn, as the fish become sparse once the sun comes up. If the lake has open water, wade out as far as you can and hold a dip net near the bottom, ready to scoop up fish as they come buy. If there is ice, be prepared to cut a hole big enough to accommodate your net.

Despite stories to the contrary, the Cisco Disco, a dance thought done under the full moon on Cisco Beach, does not help anglers to catch these sometimes elusive little fish.

Dunk worming, casting lures and floating artificial flies are effective ways to fish in Bear Lake, both on the lake as well as in the surrounding ponds, streams, rivers and tributaries. While float tubes can be used successfully at Bear Lake, they have been found to be more successful at nearby Montpelier Reservoir, located on the Idaho side of Bear Lake Valley.

The most successful bait for lake trout, cutthroat trout, whitefish and lake trout is Bonneville Cisco. The most experienced anglers will spend a portion of their time catching this succulent little morsel that not only tastes excellent smoked over the fire at the end of the day, but that attracts the larger (even prize-sized) fish.

Other lures, including Radical Glow lures, may also be effective, depending on the time of year and time of day, though jigs and cisco (or the two paired together) are the best lures available for fishing on Bear Lake. Always check current conditions to gain a better understanding of the types of lures that will work for your fishing trip.

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