We have been staying at Big Bear also for 5-6 years now. Nice place, nice people, and a great guide from their place also. His name is Rodney Hairgrove. As for the fall season. We have been down the later part of Oct and the first week of Nov. I think the week of Nov was better fishing, BUT most of the marinas and bait shops all closed the end of Oct. Therefore we usually go down the last week of Oct anymore.