Scott Tolentino with the DWR's Bear Lake project sent in this report.

September 19, 2011

Bear Lake Fishing Report:

Surface water temperature is 68 degrees. The water level has only dropped about 6” and is currently at about 5921’ which is over 10 feet higher than last fall at this time. Fishing has really picked up for lake trout and some really nice cutthroat trout. Lake trout are beginning to stage prior to their spawning run and are feeding heavily at this time. The best luck has been for anglers jigging and trolling in water (65-85’ deep) using downriggers off Gus Rich Point and along the east side at Cisco Beach and Rainbow Cove. The best trolling lures have been flatfish and rapalas and anglers who are jigging are using tube jigs tipped with cisco. Boat launching is available at the Utah State Park marina and 1st Point. The boat ramp at Rainbow Cove will be closed to ALL access from September 19 - October 1, due to paving! Please use the 1st Point ramp for east side launching. You can also launch boats on the east side at the Idaho State Park east beach as well as Idaho State Park on the north end of the lake. All boat ramps have courtesy docks in place at this time. The ramp at Cisco Beach is not usable since the concrete portion of the ramp is well underwater and with the soft sand and loose rock, you can easily get stuck. Remember, if you launch, boat or fish on the Idaho half of the lake you MUST have an Idaho mussel certification sticker on your boat or you will be ticketed. .