There isn’t almost anything in fishing that leaves a longer lasting memory than catching your first fish! For me, I was staying with my grandparents during Easter Vacation. My grandfather came into the house and told me to follow him, that he had a surprise for me in the garage.

When we got out to the garage, my grandfather gave me a rod, reel, and a small tackle box, and asked if I would like to go fishing in the morning? Yes was all there was to say, and I gave my grandfather a big hug!

Even though I was only about 5 years old, I can remember just about every detail of that trip. First my grandpa said we would have to dig up worms in the back yard for bait; even that part was a lot of fun. The next morning we got up early and headed for a small lake in San Fernando Valley. When we got to the lake, grandpa tied a hook on my line, pinched on a small split shot, and attached a small red and white bobber to the line. Then he put one of the worms we dug the day before on the hook, and cast it out in the lake. He told me to watch that bobber, and when it goes under water, pull back and set the hook because there was a fish on there.

Trout Lake Record I have learned a lot about worm fishing since that day. Every fish that swims in Big Bear Lake will take a worm including the Trophy Rainbow Trout and catfish. Last year in May, Erin Dominguez broke the lake record for trout landing a massive 18.69-pound Rainbow on a night crawler.

The following is a way to rig your line that at times can be deadly for fishing night crawlers, or a combination of a mini marshmallow and a night crawler. This works best if the line from your reel is either 2 lb. or 4 lb. test so that you can get a good distance on your cast. On the end of your line tie a #6 hook for large worms, or #8 bait holder hook for smaller worms. About 12 to 15 inches above the hook pinch on a # 3 to # 5 split shot. When you cast this rig out, let it sink to the bottom, and then s-l-o-w-l-y work it in, stopping occasionally. If you feel a bite, wait a couple of seconds to make sure the fish has it, and then set the hook.

If there is a problem with moss from the bottom covering your bait, you can inflate the crawler with a worm blower, or put on a mini marshmallow above the eye of the hook then add the night crawler which will help keep it off the bottom.

You can also fish a night crawler on a slip bobber rig, which works very well once the water in the lake warms in summer and the fish are no longer on the bottom. If you are targeting trout, the medium size night crawlers work best. If your after catfish, try the large crawlers.

www.FishBigBear.com
Fish Big Bear Charter Service