8/8/2025 Went up to Big Bear Lake to do some bowfishing and wasn't expecting much since when water temps dropped 8 degrees since last week to 57° F.
Got to the lake just before sunrise. Air temp was about 36° and there was lots of frost on the boardwalk.
Lake was like glass so it was going to be easy to see any ripples caused by fish.
First thing I see, about 60 feet out, what looked like a bunch a carp skimming around just under the surface. Dang and it was. Got my bow ready and took a shot. Arrow flew and "twang" hit the end of my 75 feet of line and dropped short. Well was a good sign anyway.
I walked back and forth on the boardwalk and shoreline and found a few singles to take shots at but miss slightly and sent them torpedoing off. Got back to the same spot and the group had resurfaced and moved closer. Took another shot and this time got to the target but maybe a little low. Reel in the arrow and see something on the point. There was a scale stuck on the point. I was amazed it stayed on after dragging it back thru the water. Looks like it was going to be a good day.
Found another group right next to the boardwalk with their little faces smiling up at me. I abliged them and proceeded to feed them... arrows. Took the shot and the arrow hit the water with a heavenly thud sound. Started pulling it in and found two carp on the arrow.


Didn't find anymore and was ready for breakfast so I left and came back around 11:30.

I walk out and find another group of carp (as tightly packed as the last one) 10 feet from the boardwalk. Took the shot, got another nice thud, and pulled in another double.


I proceeded down the boardwalk another 50 feet and see another group of carp even closer. I picked the one closest to me and shot. Another thud and see what looked like three or four fish on the arrow. 

The suckers were heavy and I couldn't get enough grip on the string to pull them up. I ended up putting a rag over the rail so I could pull and hold it on the rail while grabbing further down to pull the next foot or so. Luckily it worked. Ended up with a triple.


By this time I had a crowd of bystanders around. Most of them were pointing another 50 feet further down the boardwalk. Walked over and there were more!
This time there were three groups each between a subsequent set of pilings. 
I chose the ones closest to me hoping the shot wouldn't scare off the furthest group. Anyway took the shot, thud, and another double. By this time there were too many people and I didn't even get a picture. But interesting thing about these two was that one went thru the head and the second went in just below the gills and came out about 3 inches above the tail. Had almost a foot of arrow in it.
That was it except for one more which I managed without hitting a group.

The next morning I got out around Grey light and there was still frost again. Went to the same place. The water was a little ripplely from a light wind. I couldn't see into the water yet so I had to watch for telltale ripples from the fish. Didn't take long to find some about 30 feet out. I aimed a little lower this time since I couldn't tell how deep they were. Took the shot. Another double.

This time hit right in the mid section. They must have been on the surface like the rest.
That was it. Went and ate breakfast  went back at the same time around 11:30 and didn't see any more groups. Only saw a few singles in the weeds.
So, ended up with my second 10 fish day and first triple. Definitely an unexpectedly good weekend.

-Keith

SKUNKED!

I walked around 4 of the lakes that were stocked and didn't see a single trout, only 1 medium sized ditch pickle.

Lake 3 was muddy.  Lake 4 looked alright, but lots of anglers and no trout seen.  Lakes 6 and 7 looked like they were filled with Mountain Dew!



I'll try again tomorrow...

Quote from: jrodda on November 08, 2025, 08:24:39 AMResident cyborg Timmy! Glad the process can get going relatively quickly, hope it's an easy recovery!

Hopefully ready for Rockfish Opener 2026, might try to get The Cyclops wet one more time before surgery

Looks great! Sure wish we had a real salmon fishery down here.

Super impressive job, and that torching turned out really nice.

Resident cyborg Timmy! Glad the process can get going relatively quickly, hope it's an easy recovery!

Geting on a roll! Nice quality, that meat looks great too. Getting me all hyped up to try harder this season.

Quote from: Latimeria on November 07, 2025, 09:43:12 AM

Quote from: Tim524 on November 07, 2025, 07:23:25 AMBeen dealing with a bad knee for a while and I can't take it anymore. Saw the Surgeon yesterday and he took more X-Rays to confirm my left knee is bone on bone   He said the soonest he could do a full replacement was Christmas Eve    I mentioned I was hoping to have it done between Thanksgiving and Christmas, he looked at his schedule again and said he thinks he can squeeze me in sooner, looks like I'll be spending lots of time with Mongo next month

You really are going to be Colonel Steve Austin! Lee Majors_v2!!!!

If only I could get my eye to make that cool sound 

Quote from: Tim524 on November 07, 2025, 07:23:25 AMBeen dealing with a bad knee for a while and I can't take it anymore. Saw the Surgeon yesterday and he took more X-Rays to confirm my left knee is bone on bone   He said the soonest he could do a full replacement was Christmas Eve    I mentioned I was hoping to have it done between Thanksgiving and Christmas, he looked at his schedule again and said he thinks he can squeeze me in sooner, looks like I'll be spending lots of time with Mongo next month

You really are going to be Colonel Steve Austin! Lee Majors_v2!!!!

Quote from: Tim524 on November 07, 2025, 07:15:52 AMYou are lucky to live so close, that place has served you very well !

I used to mostly refuse to fish them for about 20 years (minus the catfish and carp trips during renting the cabins) until I met some dude that literally gave me a "key" to the lakes.  He said it just randomly in passing, but unlocked the riddle of the puddles and I've been fishing it ever since.