I predict that this will be the best year ever for this tournament, because the fishing conditions are perfect. Last year, the water was a lot warmer, and there was a full moon; two things that make trout fishing tough! This year theTroutfest 2007 water temperature will be cooler, between 57 & 59 degrees (perfect), and there will only be a quarter moon, which should make fishing fantastic. The only condition that’s impossible to predict is the wind. The wind by the way, has a much bigger effect on fishermen, than it does on the fish! I have fished over 100 days on the lake this year, and more than a few of those days, the wind blew 15 to 25 miles an hour, and I was always able to catch fish; and some of those days, fishing was very good. Don’t be discouraged if the wind decides to blow!
There are so many ways to win prizes in this years Troutfest, that it’s real tough to say what might be the best game plan. If you look at past tournament history on Big Bear Lake, Rapalas are hard to beat. Size # 3’s and # 5’s will catch the most fish, and gold/black, silver/black, Brook Trout, and Rainbow Trout are top colors. A new lure that has really caught on, an produced big fish is the Helgi! Best colors are white, gold, and silver/black.
For shear numbers of fish, you can’t beat Needlefish. Try several different colors until you find one that produces.
Where you fish during the tournament is up to you. The water temperature and oxygen are perfect from the dam to the Stanfield cut-off, so you can catch fish just about anywhere. Best depth for me lately has been from the surface down to about 2 1/2 colors.
Bait fishermen will also weigh in their share of fish during the tournament. Troutzilla, Nitro Bait, and Power Bait all work well. Try different colors until you find the hot one, and using a slip bobber rig is hard to beat.
 
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