Benefit Special Olympics

Big Bear Lake, Calif. February 1, 2012 – Big Bear Lake’s water gets rather frigid in the wintertime with lake temperatures dipping into the low 30s, sometimes into the 20s. So why would anyone deliberately take a dip in the lake during these freezing conditions? The only reason that makes rational sense is to raise funds for people in need. On Saturday, March 10, the most brazen will take the Polar Plunge into Big Bear Lake to raise money to benefit Special Olympics athletes.

Organizers are now seeking fearless men, women and children to sign-up for the inaugural Big Bear Lake Polar Plunge, which helps sponsor year-round sports training programs and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the Inland Empire Region of Special Olympics Southern California. All proceeds from the event give people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, accomplishments, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Individuals who take the Polar Plunge challenge are asked to raise at least $50 through pledges from family, friends and co-workers. Participants who reach this goal will get an official Polar Plunge t-shirt. Special Olympics supporters who prefer to stay out of the water can opt to register as a “Chicken.” They receive an “I’m too Chicken to Plunge” t-shirt, which helps raise money for the Special Olympics charity. Additional prizes are given to people who raise more than $50, and also for those with the most creative costumes. Sponsorship opportunities called EVENT FAN are available for businesses, organizations and individuals who want to pledge $500 or more.

“All it takes is a few seconds in the chilly water for plungers to discover why we refer to it as Freezin’ for a Reason,” said Special Olympics Southern California Regional Director Abbey Leffler. “They will immediately feel their hearts warm-up with joy because they know they are giving to a great cause. Nothing is too cold for a warm heart!”

Each plunger gets a moment in the spotlight with a public service announcement that briefly portrays each plunger and why he or she is taking the plunge. Plungers are encouraged to invite people who give a pledge to the event to prove that they really take the plunge, and to see first hand how bonkers the plungers really are. Spectators are encouraged to take photos and video. Costumes have become a staple with Polar Plunge events. Awards are given to participants with the best costumes, which are judged by creativity and all-around wackiest. Activities include a family fun area, guest emcee (TBA), DJ music, a souvenirs stand, vendors, and a raffle drawing with great prizes. There is a free BBQ lunch for participants. Spectators have the option to purchase BBQ lunch tickets.

The inaugural Big Bear Lake Polar Plunge is Saturday, March 10 at Meadow Park, 41220 Park Ave. in Big Bear Lake. Registration is from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Opening ceremonies, which includes a torchlight lighting ceremony and singing of the National Anthem begins at 12 noon. Plunges into frigid Big Bear Lake directly follow after opening ceremonies. Admission to watch the plunge is FREE, but donations are accepted. To register as a plunger for the Big Bear Lake Polar Plunge visit www.sosc.org/bigbearplunge or call 951-672-7707 or email aleffler@sosc.org. For lodging accommodations log onto www.bigbear.com or call 800-424-4232.

About Special Olympics Southern California:

Special Olympics Southern California has been changing lives through the power of sport for more than 40 years and offers opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and competition. For more information about how to compete, coach or contribute, visit www.sosc.org.

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Fishing for 50K - Big Bear Lake CA

Big Bear Lake has excellent trout fishing year-round.  The trick is knowing where the fish are likely to be during certain times of the year.  Here are some of the “not so secret spots” that consistently produce good fishing action.

During the spring months the fish are in shallower water and our local trout population is busy spawning in many of the streams and tributaries that feed into Big Bear Lake.  But a word of caution, fishing is prohibited in these streams until after Memorial Day weekend and the fines are huge.  If you can find where a spring is emptying into the lake, try fishing the waters just offshore. One of these areas is the inner waters of Boulder Bay.  The recently completed parking area here makes this one of the most user friendly fishing spots.

Some of the best shore fishing spots are located on the North Shore, from the dam to the West Boat Ramp.  There are several places right off North Shore Drive (Highway 38) where you can pull off the road and fish right next to your car. Also, Juniper Point, on the north shore near the East Boat Ramp is a great spot in early spring. The parking area is a short walk to the shoreline.  Some of these areas require that an Adventure Pass must be displayed on your car before you can park there.  Check with the Ranger Station on North Shore Drive.

The most productive fishing spots on Big Bear Lake are the areas that make up the “Trout Triangle” on the west side of the lake.  “The Triangle” is basically the waters along the south shore of the lake from about Gilner Point west to the dam, and from the dam, east along the North Shore to Windy Point, and back across the lake to the South Shore. The triangle is best fished from a boat because if one area isn’t producing you can easily motor over to another spot and give it a try..

No matter what area you choose, Big Bear Lake Trout fishing is one of the best ways to enjoy our alpine paradise.

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Big Bear Lake Fishing in a larger map

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif./ May 5, 2011 – Today officials of The Big Bear Lake Resort Association announced they have put a bounty on a tagged trout for $50,000 at Big Bear Lake’s Fishin’ for $50K Trout Derby June 11 and 12, 2011. An entire posse of ten tagged trout will roam the waters of Big Bear Lake during the Fishin’ for $50K Trout Derby including one particular fish worth a fortune. The angler who reels in the most wanted tagged trout will take home $50,000!

“We’re calling all bounty hunters, or in this case bounty anglers, to come up to Big Bear to catch a tagged trout worth $50,000,” said Big Bear Lake Resort Association President and CEO Rick Shoup. “The grand prize is no pocket change. In fact, $50,000 could be very useful during these sluggish economic times.”     

Prizes for the other nine tagged trout are good for Big Bear lodging and adventure packages. In addition to tagged fish, anglers who catch the largest fish (by weight) in four different classes will be awarded prizes too. The four classes are adult male/female and child male/female (under age 16). A bonus prize of $500 is awarded to the overall largest trout (by weight) caught on Berkley PowerBait, sponsored by Berkley “Catch More Fish!”

Free entry is given to Fishin’ for 50K participants who stay at least one night at a Big Bear Lake Resort Association lodge from June 10 to June 12. The amount of free entries is based on lodging occupancy per reservation. Up to four free entries is also given to participants who rent a pontoon boat on either day of the Fishin’ for $50K Trout Derby at a participating marina in Big Bear Lake.  

“We feel it’s important for our bounty anglers to have a place to rest their head after a long day of trying to track down Big Bear Lake’s most wanted fish. So it only makes sense to reward them with free entry into our fishing derby,” added Shoup.

An awards ceremony takes place Sunday, June 12 at 3 p.m. in the Big Bear Visitor Center parking lot located at 630 Bartlett Road (in the Village). The awards ceremony includes a general raffle with thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear, bait and tackle from national manufacturers. Tagged fish that have not been redeemed, with the exception of the tagged fish for $50,000 grand prize, will be donated to the general raffle.

This year anglers can win a brand new Cobra fishing kayak as part of a separate raffle to raise funds for Big Bear Municipal Water District’s fishery programs. Also, merchandise will be available for purchase with all proceeds going toward the fishery programs in Big Bear Lake.

Fishin’ for $50K Trout Derby will be held Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Entry is $40 for adults and $25 for participants under age 16. Entries are limited to the first 750 registered anglers. Each contestant receives a free jar of Berkley PowerBait and a wristband that provides discounts at participating Big Bear restaurants, shops and specialty services.

Big Bear Lake Quick Facts:

Big Bear Lake is a fresh water lake that stretches seven miles long and is approximately one mile across at its widest point.  Its maximum water depth is 72 feet 4 inches. The average depth is 35 feet. There are 22 miles of shoreline. Big Bear Lake is located in the San Bernardino Mountains at 6,743 feet altitude.

There are many things to do in beautiful Big Bear during the summer, like hiking and mountain biking, but mainly what Big Bear is known for in the summer is lake activity; and in my eyes that means fishing! Fishing in Big Bear is a challenge and you have to know what you are doing; like what bait, what jigs, and even what kind of fishing line you’re using. One other thing is, the fish up here are picky. You have to know what you are fishing for and you have to use specific baits.

1. Bass

The Large and Small Mouth Bass: everyone wants one and is looking for them. Best baits, that work for me, are plastic worms and night crawlers. Jigs work fantastic, also. My personal favorite for bass is ‘Buzz Bait’. It drives the Bass crazy and annoys them. Another thing that is good is the Banjo Minnow. It mimics a dying fish and they can’t resist it. I choose not to use a swivel when putting on jigs and lures. In my opinion the swivel can distract them.

2. Trout

The Rainbow Trout in Big Bear are extremely picky. The only thing that I know to use as bait for them is salmon eggs, night crawlers, chicken liver and Power Bait. You have a very big variety of Power Bait. All sorts of colors with glitters and what-not. I use a basic pole set up. Tie a swivel, then put on a weight, and have 2 feet of line away from the hook. Put some bait on there and you are good to go.

3. Catfish

There is a decent population of Catfish in Big Bear. They also get extremely big. We have Blue Catfish and Channels. The area I have seen them really active is near China Island. I have seen a 3 footer in that area just swimming around looking cute.
Catfish eat all kinds of things. I have heard all kinds of stories on the bait they used. Like chewing tobacco wrapped on a hotdog piece as a last resort and have caught a trophy fish. They love worms! I have thrown out 2 worms on a hook before and caught a monster. You can also get some dough from a bait store. Some stores have their own house dough. If you are going to use dough I recommend that you use dough hooks. They keep the dough on the hook and it sticks on very well.

4. Carp

There isn’t a high population of carp. It’s overpopulated! We even have a carp roundup every year. People even bow fish for them and use tridents when they’re close to shore.
Carp get really big just like Catfish. Carp eat almost everything. People make their own dough as bait. There are over a million different recipes for fishing dough. My family has their own dough recipe. We use flour, mashed up cereal, mustard, water, and some chicken bouillon.
If you don’t want to use dough, you can just ball up and press some bread on your hook. That also works really well. When I fish for Carp I set up my pole just like I would for Catfish, get a dough hook, apply the dough, and you are set!

5. Crappie

Crappie is a good beginner fish since they are an offshore fish. Actually, a lot of professionals began fishing for them. From what I have seen, Crappie love Mealworms. I have also known people that have caught them with marshmallows and chocolate chips. My mother actually catches them using fish liver. She never goes fishing without it. They are located usually in bushy areas near shore, where they hide and feed.

Bow Fishing on Big Bear Lake

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California travel expert Veronica Hill tours Big Bear Lake in this episode of “California Travel Tips.” This Big Bear video highlights Big Bear hotels such as Northwoods Resort, Big Bear restaurants, the Discovery Center and Gold Panning in the mountains.