| Re: Kern River info
The trout in the Kern River can be caught on a variety of baits and lures but they show a preference for gold colored lures. Small spoons like a Kastmaster, Little Cleo, and others are good bets. If you like spinners just make sure that they have a gold blade. My personal favorite lure for spinning tackle is a small gold Super Duper with the prizm tape.
For fly fishing, I would stick to small gold bead head nymphs. Drys will work but without knowledge of a local hatch it can be frustrating. You might also try terestrial patterns or common insect patterns like bees, flies, or beetles. Latter in the season, hopper patterns work quite well.
Bait fishing is usually productive when all else fails with live crickets probably being the local favorite however salmon eggs, meal worms, red worms, powerbait, etc., will all work at any given time. Something that is fairly new on the scene that I am hearing a lot about are the bright red .............(Wait for it!).....................maggots! They are the hot new live bait and they work!
There are so many places to fish alongside the road that you should have no trouble finding a spot. If you want more wild fish, park at the Johnsondale bridge parking lot and take the river trail upstream. This is the begining of the wild section of the river and is a "barbless hooks and lures only" area. It's not too bad a hike and is also alot cooler than the lower portion of the river above Kernville at this time of year. This section runs upstream 4 miles to where the trail turns east to meet the Rincon trail. Anywhere down stream of the bridge is unrestricted but mostly planted fish.
For good local info, try the James Store in Kernville. I think there is also a flyfishing shop that I will try and get you the name of tomorrow.
Hope this helps!
FISH HARD!
Chris
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