Anytime on the water is better than working. I have stayed at Big Bear many times and they are close to good fishing. There is also a public boat ramp right by them at the end of Big Bear Rd.
Also there is a small Mom and Pop type motel on hwy 641 south of the dam a few miles. I think it is called Bel Air or something like that. Real nice folks, clean, nothing fancy but nice people and priced right. They have small kitchenetts. I have stayed there a couple times also. South of that there is a resturaunt called the catfish kitchen or something. GOOOOOOOOD food. They have a pond right outside the window so you can eat and watch huge catfish swim by.
Damn I got to go, now im getting hungry.
Good luck and enjoy