Kern River info

**FULL TILT** · May-02-2006, 03:05 PM

looking to head up to the area above lake isabella for a little trout fishing (bait makin') at the end of may. never done fished this area before. i have my standard dry flies, power baits, sabiki rigs and the rest of the crap that works well in the eastern sierra. anyone have any info on reliable lures or maybe some places of interest?

Weazel · May-02-2006, 06:00 PM

Yo Vince. I used to fish up there all the time. Little spoons worked great (black and gold) and so did balls of fire (green label and pretty much cheating). We used to stay at Jamestown and Rivernook camp grounds. Pretty good fishing and you can camp right on the river. Full bathrooms, the works. If you're got some extra time, drive up into the mountains a little farther. Some cool views and good fishing in some little creeks. We also used to take rafts and innertubes to float down the river during the summer months. That place gets pretty hot.

**FULL TILT** · May-03-2006, 10:36 AM

thanks zach. from what i have heard, this place is pretty cool. got a spot above the lake in the hospital flat zone. should be a nice relaxing weekend if nothing else!!

shinerunner · May-03-2006, 10:44 AM

Ditto on hiking up the river and fishing the little streams

SLJG · May-03-2006, 07:51 PM

Live crickets are a sure bet.

Baja Dreamer · May-03-2006, 11:55 PM

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

TheShark · May-04-2006, 08:31 AM

Vince
fish the fly! you can do it

**gonsurfn** · May-24-2006, 09:25 PM

Chris, thanks for the info. I am gonna be camped next to ol' stinky aka vince.

I haven't been up in a few years but loved the area and hiking into some of the tributaries that feed the upper kern by the campgrounds. I saw this cool link to upper Kern flows...i hope it has peaked and is dropping...check this link..

http://www.dreamflows.com/graphs/yir.104.html

7500 flow is nuts

...4000 is still kind of big...

join us for a beer over the weekend!!

Fishbones · May-24-2006, 09:57 PM

Some good info here.
http://www.kernvalley.com/wwwboard/post3.html

Rich

Baja Dreamer · May-25-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonsurfn

I saw this cool link to upper Kern flows...i hope it has peaked and is dropping...check this link..

http://www.dreamflows.com/graphs/yir.104.html

7500 flow is nuts

...4000 is still kind of big...

join us for a beer over the weekend!!

Most of the guys I talk to think that the flow isn't going to peak this year until about the end of July due to the larger portion of the melt off not having started yet. That peak you see earlier this month was due to thunder storms in the area that were fairly heavy.

I'd like to come up and visit but I've got too much to do for my 8 day that leaves on June 2nd!

FISH HARD!

Chris

**Surfdoc** · May-25-2006, 02:06 AM

Hey Vince what are you specific dates.. I think I missed that!

**FULL TILT** · May-25-2006, 02:56 PM

me, Doodoo (gonsurfn) & co. are leaving tomorrow Fryday-5/26 and staying for three nights. i've already got all my supplies taken care of and just have to release the hounds, lock up the house and arm the gattling guns that are linked to the motion sensors.

i got a bottle of tequila for the trip that doesnt stand a chance of coming back home

rich- thanks for that link braddah. the mo' info da bettah!!