Wet your appetite for fun! Big Bear Lake has it all – pontoon boating, sailing, power boating; windsurfing, sailboarding; wake-boarding, water-skiing, water-tubing; jet-skiing/wave runners; canoeing or kayaking, paddle boarding; boat tours and cruises…there is something for everyone! Boats and equipment can be rented at any one of the marinas that dot the lake’s 23 miles of shoreline. Marinas are open spring, summer and autumn. Private boat permits are required and can be purchased at any marina.
The lake is indeed top billing at the mountain resort. It is located right in the center of the action, which makes it the number one attraction in the summer months. Big Bear Lake attracts boaters of all walks of life. On any given weekend from May to October expect to see a variety of water vessels that are great for boating and leisure. Anglers enjoy taking a boat out to catch a selection of freshwater species, namely rainbow trout and largemouth bass. Some of the more popular types of boats for cruising around or trolling include pontoons and tripoons as well as aluminum fishing boats and bass boats. Many of these style boats will have white flags hanging near the boat’s stern. This doesn’t mean they are surrendering. Instead the white flag represents a fair warning to other boaters that they are trolling for rainbow trout and their line is nearby.
Fun on Big Bear Lake!
Another great way to get a feel for the lake is to experience a boat with a little more flash and a little more pep. Some people prefer to speed it up a bit with high-powered motor boats. One of the top ways to have fun is to go waterskiing or wakeboarding behind a boat that is specialized for these favored aquatic sports. Also, water skis and wakeboards are not the only things to ride the wakes in Big Bear Lake. In fact, inner tubes are something that just about anyone can have a good time on. Just hold on to the tow rope and let it rip! With these types of boats it’s common to see a person on board holding an orange flag. This simply means a wakeboarder, skier or other type of swimmer is near the boat, better known as “skier down.” There are many ways to enjoy the lake from behind a boat, and there is no better place to get a feel for the excitement than in Big Bear Lake.
Big Bear has even taken wakeboarding and wakeskating to another level where a boat is not required. Big Bear now offers a cable wake park designed to help get beginners get their feet wet and learn the popular water sport.
Another way to get a rush on the water’s surface is with jet skis. Here riders hit full throttle on these jet-propelled watercraft to dart across the lake! This is the epitome of fun in the sun. Hit the rolling wakes and zip around the lake with fast-paced action! Jet skis come in different styles including Sea Doos, Yamaha Waverunners, and the classic Kawasaki Jetskis. 
For a more relaxed pace, skippers of wind-powered vessels enjoy some of the best freshwater sailing in Southern California. Consistent mountain breezes provide just enough gust for Hobie Cats, windsurfers and sailboards.
Then of course there are many opportunities to poke around the lake paddling around. There are various personal watercrafts to explore Big Bear such as kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards. These smaller vessels are ideal for individuals that want to experience Big Bear Lake where larger boats cannot go. There are coves, bays and inlets perfect for paddling around.
Other fun things to consider for a good time are to fly a parasail high into the sky above the water. Also, Big Bear Lake offers a new thrilling way to get above the lake’s surface with the latest water craze called flyboarding.
If you are looking to relax and get a little history about the Lake and the Big Bear Valley, you can take one of our local boat tours – The Big Bear Queen, Miss Liberty, and our very own Pirate Ship are fun ways for the whole family to experience the lake.
What is all comes down to is Big Bear Lake has plenty of ways to either get into the action and get a little wet or take in the relaxed atmosphere and cruise around the lake in a boat. In spring, summer and fall it’s all about the lake, and the choices for aquatic fun are boundless.
Info provided by BigBear.com
RS Vacations - Big Bear Lake, CA 