Kern County Fishing Reports

Checkout the latest report from Guy Jeans (Kern River Fly Shop). Generally... The Kern’s running high, but there’s still fish to be had. On the Upper, trout are holding in soft edge water and eating streamers if you stay out of the main current. The incoming creeks are bouncing back from the fires, with wild browns taking dry-dropper rigs in deeper pools. Down low, the river’s pushing hard from Isabella outflows... not great conditions, but fishable from the bank. View the video for more details.

Bass as Isabella are finally fired up and pushing into the shallows. Fish are holding tight to cover, with bites coming on a mix of reaction baits and soft plastics. Chatterbaits, tubes, and weightless Senkos are all getting eaten, while there are still a few deeper fish chewing on Texas rigs and crankbaits. Fly anglers are doing damage with small baitfish patterns, stripping it through 8-10 feet of water on a sinking leader.

Crappie are scattered but catchable. Trout fishing also got a boost with a fresh CDFW plant this week… rainbows are biting bait and spoons around the usual access points.

On the Upper Kern, flows are pumping right now, sitting at about 1,600 CFS below the powerhouse and around 1,000 CFS above it. It’s fishable, but not for the lazy. You’ll want to stick tight to the edges, pick apart the soft pockets, and find those slower seams behind big rocks and in eddies. Wading isn’t a casual stroll this time of year, so tread smart.

Clarity’s a little off-color but workable. Bigger, flashier flies are your friend right now — think buggers, San Juan worms, and nymphs with some bling under an indicator. The good news? A weather cooldown is on the way, and if temps drop like forecasted, flows might ease off by the weekend and open up more spots.

Down on the Lower Kern, water temps are up to the 60s and bass are starting to come alive. The bite should keep improving as things warm up.