Fishing is good for cutthroat trout and fair for lake trout. Anglers report the best fishing in shallow water along the west side from the State Park Marina north to Fish Haven, ID. Fishing along the east side at Cisco Beach, Rainbow Cove and north to the Idaho State Park has been good too. Mornings have been the best time to fish, but you can catch fish throughout the day. During the day, fish move deeper so you'll need to search them out with your sonar.


The surface water temperature is about 46??F. Anglers are catching fish in a variety of depths from 15 to 100 feet -- but 15 to 30 feet has been the best. Vary your depth until you find some active fish. Try using both downriggers with flatfish or jointed Rapalas, or using flatlines with deep-diving crankbaits. You may also want to try using lures with rattles in them.


You're required to stop at the mandatory watercraft check stations. Remember to clean, drain and dry your boat after you leave a water that you've fished. If you do, you can make it through the check station in two or three minutes the next time you launch at Bear Lake.