Kern County Fishing Reports

The Upper Kern is looking really good right now... water is clear and temps up near Johnsondale Bridge are sitting 65-68 degrees. Start at first light to about 10am before the heat sets in. Small flies are working best... little mayfly and Baetis nymphs, pheasant tails, soft-hackle pheasant tails, etc. Attractors are still getting bit, just downsize them. Caddis are coming off early morning and again from sunset to dark if you want to fish dries.

The Lower Kern is just now coming into its window. Flows are still on the high side but dropping and the water is clearing, with pockets and structure starting to show. Look for eddy lines and slack water off the fast stuff for bass. Smallmouth, largemouth, are spotted are all in play, plus crappie, bluegill and catfish.

This info was sourced from Guy Jean of the Kern River Fly Shop. Check out the video for more details.

The water level is dropping and temps are increasing, but there's still an excellent multi-species bite happening at Isabella right now. Bass guys are crushing 1-2 pound fish off points, rocks, and hard structure on soft plastics... Senkos, dropshots, and Flukes in shad colors. Some fish are keying in on crawdads too, so red jigs and crawfish-style baits are working as well. A 12-pounder was landed last week on a shad-colored crankbait, so the reaction bite is there, but it's best early and late in the day.

Crappie have been somewhat scattered... small schools are still around in the 20-foot range near submerged brush and wood. Live shiners are always the go-to, but minijigs are working also.

Catfish are hitting extremely well late in the evening on chicken livers and nightcrawlers.

A few trout are still being picked up as well near the North Fork in the early mornings. Soaking Powerbait or floated nightcrawlers is the best bet.

Weekly CDFW trout stocks continue on the Kern across the South Fork and upper sections 4 and 5... some of the most accessible water on the upper river. Spin anglers are finding fish on spinners, spoons, and jigs. Fly guys are getting bit on nymphs. The standard spots are holding fish... focus on deeper pools and eddies where the current breaks.

The lower Kern hasn't seen a trout plant since April, but fish are still around and eating. Slower water is producing on Powerbait and mice tails, with spinners and reaction stuff getting bit more so in the early mornings. Bass fishing has been good on finesse plastics... dropshots and smaller jigs are working, with a solid reaction bite in the early hours on jerkbaits and crankbaits. Catfish action has been excellent in the slowest, deepest sections.