Trolling is the most effective way to catch Big Bear Lake trout. The nature of the lake is that the trout tend to hold fairly deep most of the time. They also have seasonal movements. That means, you'll have to search for the fish with a trolled lure and a depthfinder.

Lure- and fly-anglers can also fish from float tubes, kayaks and kick boats as long as they pay a launch fee and stay out of the way of faster ski boats and personal watercraft. For the best fishing info, check out www.bigbear.us/fishreport.html.

Lake Gregory
Not far to the west of Big Bear Lake is smaller Lake Gregory. A San Bernardino County Park, Lake Gregory is the only county park lake that routinely gets stocks of trout in the summer months. This is a very good fishery with good shore access. You can rent a boat (private boats not allowed) or launch a float tube to fish this 120-acre water.

Lake Gregory is often a better bait lake than one where lures are effective. Most of the prepared baits will work just fine. You will have to float your baits off the bottom. The weed beds in Lake Gregory grow quickly in the spring. For more, call the park office at (909) 338-2233.

LA AREA
There are a number of trout streams in the mountains around the Los Angeles area. Two of note are the East and West Forks of the San Gabriel River.

These two waters used to be a combination of wild trout and stocked trout, but due to a recent lawsuit that restricts stocking, they probably will not be stocked this year. (See accompanying story.) Trout anglers wanting to take a limit of fish should look elsewhere.

Upper Piru Creek from Pyramid Lake north into Lockwood Valley has been made part of the Heritage and Wild Trout Program, with suitable limits on take.

Kern, Isabella
At the lower end of the Sierra chain lie the Kern River and Lake Isabella. Both are excellent trout-fishing destinations for Southland anglers. The Kern also may not be stocked this year, but that might change. If the Kern River hatchery could produce native Kern River rainbow, then it could be stocked.

Lake Isabella will continue to be stocked with hatchery fish, and there is talk that the lower Kern, below Lake Isabella may continue to receive stocked trout from current hatchery sources. For fly-anglers, the best Web site is www.kernriverflyfishing.com

Don't overlook the South Fork of the Kern River in the Kennedy Meadows area. This portion of the Kern River system has miles of good trout angling with several Forest Service campgrounds and other lodging in the area.

Walking south into the Domelands Wilderness gets you several miles of peace and quiet, along with good trout angling.