Big Bear Summer Magazine 2019

storm. Time Bandit was raised and
completely refurbished and is now better
than ever.
Built by a father and son team in their
backyard over a nearly 10 year period,
Time Bandit is much more than a mere
movie prop, weighing an incredible 27 tons
with lead keel and 38-foot waterline.
She’s been sailing the Big Bear seas for
over a decade as one of the most unique
tourist attractions around. Other tour
boats see the many movie locations in Big
Bear, but Time Bandit was one! Formerly
berthed at the San Diego Maritime
Museum, she also toured Los Angeles
Harbor and Newport Beach’s Fun Zone in
her colorful past. Getting Time Bandit to
Big Bear was a feat in itself, requiring 28
different permits and a 2-1/2 day journey
from Dana Point.
Up to 25 guests enjoy topside seating as
they sail the lake in search of pillage and
plunder, powered by reliable outboard
engines instead of sails. When Time
Bandit cruises around a point and into a
bay she looks like a sight straight from the
Caribbean.
Youngsters especially love Time
Bandit, since they get to raid the treasure
chest in search of “booty” that includes
toys and rub-on tattoos so they can look
the part too. The captains even let kids
take a turn at the wheel, during daily 90-
minute trips out of Holloway’s Marina at
2 p.m. plus noon, 4 and 6 p.m. as demand
dictates.
When other vessels approach Time
Bandit sends shots across their bows with
her mighty cannon, packed with firing
powder. “Fire in the hole” is the captain’s
call, followed by a roaring “boom!” that
echoes across the lake.
Holloway’s Marina is also home to Get
Wet Water Sports Center, which offers the
largest selection of waverunners and jet
skis on the lake. Choose from multi seat
Sea Doos and Yamaha SUVSs to threeperson
rides and even two-seaters.
Combined with machines at
North Shore Landing
there’s a fleet of over 20 rides, so there’s
usually a ski available even in busy
times.
Personal watercraft have come a
long way since the days of the stand-up
jet ski, which required skill to mount
though once you did, they were as fun
as anything out there now. Get Wet still
has one around for the occasional
diehard who wants it. But sit-down
versions bring the sport to the masses; if
you can ride a bike, you can ride a
waverunner.
Four-stroke (or cycle) waverunners
are clearly the machines of choice for
lake enthusiasts. Four-cycles have
about 20% more power than twos, nice
at Big Bear’s Lake’s 6,750 ft. elevation,
and they’re so stable they exude a
feeling of confidence riders pick up on.
Best of all, four-cycles are friendlier to
the environment.
Early birds get the glassy lake and
deals like the 10-10-10 discount on jet
ski rentals at Get Wet Water Sports
Center. Go out before 10 a.m. any
morning when the lake is at its best and
get 10% off plus an extra 10 minutes
free on any jet ski rental.
Holloway’s RV
Park is considered one
of the nicest and most
popular facilities
around. Surrounded
by lake on one side
and quiet Metcalf Bay
neighborhood on the
other, there’s 118 level
sites with trees and full
hookups that have
been upgraded to 50
amp service. Each has
great lake or
mountain views and
all are well away from
busy street noise. At
Holloway’s, campers hear only boats
and birds.
Camping at the RV Park dates back
over a hundred years ago when “Dad”
Charles Holloway rented lakeside
cabins for a buck a head per night. The
present day park was developed in the
early 1970’s by the Hafen and Turner
families, who continue to operate the
facility today.
Holloway’s offers complete facilities
including convenience store with
everything from beer and wine to
groceries, ice and camping supplies.
There’s also a nice kids playground,
propane, hot showers, laundry and
dump station—everything RVers need
for an escape to the mountains.
And the full-service marina is just
steps from your trailer. Rent a pontoon
or fishing boat, go paddleboarding, take
out a kayak, all just a short stroll away.
Call Holloway’s Marina (909-866-
5706), North Shore Landing (909-
878-4FUN) or www.800bigbear.com.
Play in the spray
to beat the heat
Lake Activities,
continues on page 14
Fish for Bucks, Boat at
Trout Tourneys
The big winter has resulted in a big influx of fresh water into
Big Bear Lake, making for incredible fishing that should
continue all Big Bear Summer long.
In fact over 17,000 acre
feet of water has brought
the lake level up nearly 10
feet from its low last fall.
With each acre foot
measuring 325,851 gallons,
that’s a lot of fresh water
coming in and the fish seem
to like it.
The spring bite has been
very active with lots of limits
reported and large trout
taken. Plus 100,000 trout—
that’s no typo— are set to
be planted in 2019, with
some put into the lake in
early April and the rest in
June just prior to “Fishin’
for $50K” on June 8-9.
Tons of cash prizes are
on the line during the event
with five tagged grand prize
fish good for $10,000 each.
Still another 75 are worth
cash prizes, with 25 tagged
fish worth up to $200 each Anyone can catch Trout in Big Bear!
and 50 consolation trout
worth $50. That’s a total of 80 tagged trout out there and while grand prize trout was
elusive last year, lots of $200 fish were reeled in.
If that’s not enough, someone will take home a fishing kayak courtesy of Hobie
and Big Bear Sporting Goods at the Sunday awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at Bartlett
events area where there’s general raffle for thousands of dollars in fishing gear, bait
and tackle from national manufacturers.
Fishing is from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. each day. The $80 entry is for both derby days and
includes free Pautzke Fire Bait and a wristband that provides discounts at local
restaurants, shops and services. $20 of each entry goes to Big Bear Lake trout fishery
program.
Get 50% off entry by booking lodging or pontoon boat rental for the event. The
event is limited to the first 750 anglers. Call (800) 424-4232.
Back for its 15th year is the annual Western Outdoor News Big Bear Lake
Troutfest, held October 5-6. Co-sponsored by Holloway’s and Big Bear Marinas, the
event has become one of the premier fishing tournaments in the region and for good
reason: everyone who enters gets goodie bag stuffed with line, hooks, sinkers and
more, and someone is going to take home a boat and trailer valued at almost $20,000.
Trout have landed trucks for lucky anglers and there’s again tons of prizes at stake.
The lake sees $15,000 trout stock in advance of the event by Western Outdoor News
to make sure anglers enjoy heavy-hitting action.
Every entry has a chance to take home the grand raffle prize: a $13,000 Klamath
boat package with trailer and 20 hp Suzuki Marine tiller. There’s also a Sea Eagle
Fish SUP valued at $1,300.
All participants receive one raffle ticket— no others are sold— for prizes like
exotic fishing trips, getaways, fishing gear and more. Tens of thousands of dollars in
cash and prizes are up for grabs during the event and there’s also a special raffle for
juniors with separate grand prize.
All anglers are eligible for the $5,000 blind bogey contest, in which $20 from each
entry fee is put into a pool with 25% of the proceeds going to fishermen whose
catches come closest to predetermined weights.
Fishing gets underway each day at 6:30 a.m. and continues till 4 p.m. Saturday, 2
p.m. on Sunday. The $75 entry includes event hat and Sunday barbecue, blind bogey
contest and raffle ticket. Registration is limited to 1,000 anglers and the first 600 to
sign up receive the free well-stocked goodie bag. To register call (949) 366-0248.
Visit bigbearfishingassociation.org. ■
BIG BEAR SUMMER 2019 • 13