Tag: Crappie

Kern River Fly Fishing Report February 6, 2019

 

The view this afternoon from my deck looking south towards Lake Isabella.

Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round

The 20 mile section is fishing poor with the recent rain and runoff causing the river to cloud up a bit. The upper river is starting to clear as I write. Check out the video above from today on the river. Water temperature above town is 38 degrees and flows are around 500 cfs. We are at 130% of normal snowpack already. It’s gonna be a great year.

Upper Kern Flow Charts

Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section ( 4 miles above Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round – Catch and Release only!

No reports this week on this section. Most anglers are fishing the 20 mile section!

California Creekin– The season for Creekin in the Southern Sierra is now closed. The small creeks will reopen on the last Saturday of April.

Lake Isabella
Water level in the lake is at 83,200 acre feet, the ideal Low Pool level by the Army Corps for dam repairs and will remain at this level until next year. Fishing has been slow for most.

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is flowing around 100 cfs. Water temperatures down here are 45 degrees. Smallies and Largemouth are not biting at this time! The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is flowing around 120 cfs. Check out the video above for a visual.

Lower Kern Flow Charts

4 x 4 Adventure Fly Fishing Trips

For more information Click Here

 

Intermediate Fly Fishing Clinic

Monday, February 18, 2019| 8AM- 3pm | Kernville, CA

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Beginner Clinic #1

Sunday , February 17, 2019 / 8AM – 12PM / Kernville, CA

or Saturday March 23, 2019 / 8AM – 12PM / Kernville CA

or Saturday March 23, 2019 / 1PM – 5PM / Kernville CA

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Fly Fish the Surf Clinic – Ventura

Saturday March 2, 2019 / 8AM – 11AM / Ventura, CA

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April 5 -14, 2019

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Guy Jeans Speaking Engagements on the Kern River:

Wednesday February 27, 2019  7pm – Deep Creek Fly Fishers in Riverside CA

Thursday February 28, 2019  7pm – Long Beach Casting Club in Long Beach CA

Next performances are:

Friday March 1, 2019 in Ojai , CA @7pm  Ojai Underground Exchange

Friday April 19, 2019 in Morro Bay, CA @ 8pm The Siren w Ska Legends “Let’s GO Bowling”.

Stoneflys are:
Skabone Stan – Trombone (Pato Banton, Crucial DBC), Karl Hunter– Sax ( Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), Dave Price –Sax (Don Henley, Lion I’s, Papa Nata), Robert Rachelli – Drums (Lion I’s, Papa Nata), Guy Jeans – Vocals/Keyboards( Lion I’s, Papa Nata), Kevin Miller – Trumpet( Ska Daddyz), Fili Landeros -Keyboards( After the Smoke, Rising Son), Tk – Bass (Lion I’s), Bernie Larsen – Guitar( Jackson Brown, Mellisa Ethridge) .

 

Kern River Fly Fishing Report January 21, 2019

Looking south and downstream from Thunderbird January 21, 2019

Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round

The 20 mile section is fishing poor with the recent rain and runoff causing the river to cloud up a bit. The upper river is starting to clear as I write. Check out the video above from today on the river. Water temperature above town is 46 degrees and flows are around 500 cfs.

Upper Kern Flow Charts

Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section ( 4 miles above Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round – Catch and Release only!

No reports this week on this section. Most anglers are fishing the 20 mile section!

California Creekin– The season for Creekin in the Southern Sierra is now closed.

Lake Isabella
Water level in the lake is at 83,200 acre feet, the ideal Low Pool level by the Army Corps for dam repairs and will remain at this level until next year.

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is flowing around 400 cfs. Water temperatures down here are 45 degrees. Smallies and Largemouth are not biting at this time! The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is flowing around 350 cfs.

Lower Kern Flow Charts

 

 

Intermediate Fly Fishing Clinic

Sunday, January 27, 2019| 8AM- 3pm | Kernville, CA

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Beginner Clinic #1

Saturday , January 26, 2019 / 8AM – 12PM / Kernville, CA

or Saturday February 2, 2019 / 8AM – 12PM / Kernville CA

REGISTER

Fly Fish the Surf Clinic – Ventura

Saturday March 2, 2019 / 8AM – 11AM / Ventura, CA

REGISTER

April 5 -14, 2019

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Guy Jeans Speaking Engagements on the Kern River:

Wednesday February 27, 2019  7pm – Deep Creek Fly Fishers in Riverside CA

Thursday February 28, 2019  7pm – Long Beach Casting Club in Long Beach CA

Next performance is at the Ojai Underground Exchange

Friday March 1, 2019 in Ojai , CA @7pm

Stoneflys comin at ya!
Skabone Stan – Trombone, Karl Hunter- Sax, Dave Price -Sax, Robert Rachelli – Drums, Guy Jeans – Vocals/Keyboards, Kevin Miller – Trumpet, Fili Landeros -Keyboards, Tk – Bass, Bernie Larsen – Guitar .

 

Kern River Fly Fishing Report October 3, 2018

Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge)

The 20 mile section has been fishing excellent with all the summer crowds gone and perfect conditions. Fly anglers have been doing well with various techniques including both nymphing and dry fly fishing. Water temps are at a nice 55-60°F and this section is running at 160 cfs and very clear. Soft hackle Kern Emergers, Flash Back Pheasant tails and smaller Stonefly nymphs have been very productive as well as Stimulators and October Caddis type flies.

Check out the upper Kern 20 mile section fly packages- Click Here

Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section (above Johnsondale Bridge)

Anglers are reporting doing well nymphing deep under an indicator and using size 18-20 Pheasant Tail variations and size 20-22 WD-40’s. Stripping olive wooley buggers have also been productive.

California Creekin– The season for Creekin in the Southern Sierra is slowly coming to a close.

Lake Isabella
Fly Fishing for Crappie and Catfish in the lake at this time is okay with water temps at 70°F. Top water bass fishing is solid on poppers in the morning and evening. Water level in the lake is at 83,200 acre feet, the ideal Low Pool level by the Army Corps for dam repairs and will remain at this level until next year. Steady carp bite in the AM and quite good, especially if you are on a PFD.

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is flowing around 300cfs. Water temperatures down here are 70 degrees. Smallies and Largemouth are solid! The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is flowing at 300 cfs.

Lower Kern Flow Charts

 

Beginner Fly Fishing #2 Clinic

Sunday, October 14, 2018 | 8:00 AM | Kernville, CA

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 Beginner Fly Fishing Clinic #1

Saturday, October 27, 2018 | 8:00 AM | Kernville, CA

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Intermediate Fly Fishing Clinic

Saturday, October 28, 2018 | 8:00 AM | Kernville, CA

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Guide Training School

November 7, 2018- November 16, 2018 | Kernville, CA

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New Stoneflys Music Video “With You”

Kern River Fly Fishing Report April 17, 2018

New 4 x 4 Adventure Trip Dates – Click Here!

June 21- 23 2018 Sold Out!

June 25- 27 2018 Sold Out!

July 23- 25 2018 2 spots left

July 27- 29 2018 2 spots left

August 21- 23 2018 6 spots left

August 24- 26 2018 6 spots left

September 5-7 2018 3 spots left

September 9 – 11 2018 4 spots left

Upper Kern comes down to fishable levels – Lake Isabella Bass/ Crappie Rockin and Lower Kern Bass come alive!

Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop) The upper Kern is 1100/1200 CFS For those of you targeting hatchery fish, the DFW will be stocking many trout in the upper Kern and tributaries in the next few weeks. Many of those fish are trophy fish. Should be a fun time for kids and their families this spring. Fish are hitting streamers casting down stream and across  and then stripping back. They are also hitting Pheasant Tail Nymphs size 18/20 Look for March Browns to be hatching around 2pm as well as Pteronarcys californicas around 5pm

Lake Isabella

 

 

There are some SERIOUS numbers of Trout in the lake! The Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce stocked around 10,000 pounds of Trout on Monday. Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked another 5,000 pounds Monday. AND….5000lbs of Nebraska Tailwalkers ranging from 5-15 lbs are officially IN THE LAKE…!!!! Those that aren’t caught go up the river!

Fly Fishing for Crappie in the lake at this time is very good. I believe a world record Crappie on the fly will come out of the lake this year. All we have to beat is 14 inches and Ive seen many over that over the years. Tony Click has a 17 inch Crappie mounted in his office from the lake.

Joseph with his first ever fish on a fly.

Carp fly fishing is again top notch right now for those of you who love to fly fish for Carp. Jon and Celine below are having a good time right now. Jon caught his on a Tenkara rod. Dont forget about the Fly Fishing Carp Fest May 19 and registering at the website below.

Register here. https://ssffclub.org/

Learn how to fly fish for “Carp Clinic” with Guy Jeans

Saturday May 5, 2018 / 8am/ Kern River Fly Shop

Register Here https://kernriverflyshop.com/products/carp-clinic

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is fishing good. Water temperatures down here are 58 degrees and bass are getting active. The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is fishing better now. The lower Kern has been fishing ok for bass at this time from lake Isabella dam to Bakersfield/Oildale but should get good as soon as it gets warm. Cfs is 400

Lower Kern Flow Charts

If you feel that these reports are valuable to you, please click the donate button below and make a donation of any amount you think is equal to the amount of information you are getting each week.

Thank you so much,

Guy Jeans

 

Clinics

The next “Fly Fishing the Surf Clinic” Saturday May 12, 2018 Ventura

Click here to register for the clinic $75.00

In the video below Guy Jeans talks about surf structure and where to find fish in the surf.

Kern River Fly Fishing Report April 10 , 2018

Upper Kern Blows Out Again at 6000 CFS , Lake Isabella Crappie Bite Hot!!! Lower Kern OK

Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop) The upper Kern is blown out at this time 2500 cfs, but you should be able to fish it in a couple days or by this weekend. For those of you targeting hatchery fish, the DFW will be stocking many trout in the upper Kern and tributaries in the next few weeks. Many of those fish are trophy fish. Should be a fun time for kids and their families this spring. Before the blowout we had some great days fishing the March Brown Mayfly hatch.  Fish were rising very consistently in the afternoons.

Here is a video of Devin right before the storm hit on April 3, 2018.

Lake Isabella

There are some SERIOUS numbers of Trout in the lake! The Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce stocked around 10,000 pounds of Trout on Monday. Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked another 5,000 pounds Monday. AND….5000lbs of Nebraska Tailwalkers ranging from 5-15 lbs are officially IN THE LAKE…!!!! Those that aren’t caught go up the river!

Fly Fishing for Crappie in the lake at this time is very good. I believe a world record Crappie on the fly will come out of the lake this year. All we have to beat is 14 inches and Ive seen many over that over the years. Tony Click has a 17 inch Crappie mounted in his office from the lake.

Carp fly fishing is again top notch right now for those of you who love to fly fish for Carp. Jon and Celine below are having a good time right now. Jon caught his on a Tenkara rod. Dont forget about the Fly Fishing Carp Fest May 19 and registering at the website below.

Register here. https://ssffclub.org/

Learn how to fly fish for “Carp Clinic” with Guy Jeans

Saturday May 5, 2018 / 8am/ Kern River Fly Shop

Register Here https://kernriverflyshop.com/products/carp-clinic

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is fishing good. Water temperatures down here are 58 degrees and bass are getting active. The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is fishing better now. The lower Kern has been fishing ok for bass at this time from lake Isabella dam to Bakersfield/Oildale but should get good as soon as it gets warm.

If you feel that these reports are valuable to you, please click the donate button below and make a donation of any amount you think is equal to the amount of information you are getting each week.

Thank you so much,

Guy Jeans

 

Clinics

Beginner Freshwater Clinic #1 – Saturday April 24, 2018

Morning Class has 2 spots left!

Click here to register for the Clinic #1 only! $75.00

Click here for Clinic #1 Fly Rod Combo =$220.00 + Free Clinic

The next “Fly Fishing the Surf Clinic” Ventura

Saturday May 12, 2018 Ventura

Click here to register for the clinic $75.00

In the video below Guy Jeans talks about surf structure and where to find fish in the surf.

New 4 x 4 Adventure Trip Dates – Click Here!

Kern River Fly Fishing Report January 30, 2018

 

The upper Kern River is fishing better with the warm weather while the Lower Kern River remains good!

If you feel that these reports are valuable to you, please click the donate button below and make a donation of any amount you think is equal to the amount of information you are getting each week. Thank you so much,

Guy Jeans

Donate by clicking the link below.

 


Upper Kern 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop)The upper Kern River from Lake Isabella north to 4 miles past the Johnsondale bridge( wild trout section) remains open to fly fishing all year. Water temperatures came up the last few days to 42 degrees in the morning and warming up to 45 degrees in the afternoon. The river is down to 350 cfs and clear. Fishing on the upper Kern is slow at this time, but a few fish are getting active and a few fly anglers have caught them. A Skwala Stonefly hatch has started on the upper Kern as well as a few BWO’s. The Fish and Wild Life did stock hatchery fish in section #3 4 weeks ago for those anglers targeting stocked fish.

https://youtu.be/3-fP54VuCWE

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – Blue Wing olive hatch around 2pm and fish are coming up in certain sections of the lower Kern. Water temperatures down here are 5 to 10 degrees warmer. The DFW stocked the lower river recently and fly fishers have been doing well on hatchery fish in this section. The lower Kern has been fishing slow for bass at this time from lake Isabella dam to Bakersfield/Oildale.

Below are some BWO’s from a stomach pump on the lower Kern

 

 

Lower Kern DVD- Back in Stock

Click here for Lower Kern DVD

Lake Isabella – Ok for Trout, fishing slow for bass and carp

4 Mile Wild Trout Section above Johnsondale Bridge is open year round- Fishing has been poor in this section. On November 15, the wild trout section became catch and release only with barbless hooks. No bait is allowed in this section all year long.

South Fork of the Kern is closed until the last Saturday in April
All tributaries in Tulare County are closed until the last Saturday in April.

Upcoming Clinics

Fly Fishing the Surf Clinics

Intro to Fly Fishing the Surf Clinic in Ventura Saturday February 3, 2018 / 8am to 11am

Intro to Fly Fishing the Surf in Pismo – Sunday February 11, 2018 / 8am to 11am

https://kernriverflyshop.com/t/fly-fishing-in-the-surf-clinics

 

Kern River Fly Fishing Report January 23, 2018

Upper Kern River continues to fish slow while the Lower Kern River remains hot!

If you feel that these reports are valuable to you, please click the donate button below and make a donation of any amount you think is equal to the amount of information you are getting each week. Thank you so much,

Guy Jeans



 

 

Upper Kern 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop)The upper Kern River from Lake Isabella north to 4 miles past the Johnsondale bridge( wild trout section) remains open to fly fishing all year. Water temperatures have dropped down to 36 degrees in the morning and warming up to 40 degrees in the afternoon. The river is down to 350 cfs and clear. Fishing on the upper Kern is slow at this time, but the Fish and Wild Life did stock hatchery fish in section #3 3 weeks ago for those anglers targeting stocked fish.

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – Blue Wing olive hatch around 2pm and fish are coming up in certain sections of the lower Kern. Water temperatures down here are 5 to 10 degrees warmer. The DFW stocked the lower river recently and fly fishers have been doing well on hatchery fish in this section. The lower Kern has been fishing slow for bass at this time from lake Isabella dam to Bakersfield/Oildale.

These are pictures from the Lower Kern Fly Fishing Clinic held on Sunday January 21, 2018

 

Lower Kern DVD- Back in Stock

Click here for Lower Kern DVD

Lake Isabella – Ok for Trout, fishing slow for bass and carp

4 Mile Wild Trout Section above Johnsondale Bridge is open year round- Fishing has been poor in this section. On November 15, the wild trout section became catch and release only with barbless hooks. No bait is allowed in this section all year long.

South Fork of the Kern is closed until the last Saturday in April
All tributaries in Tulare County are closed until the last Saturday in April.

Upcoming Clinics

Fly Fishing the Surf Clinics

Intro to Fly Fishing the Surf Clinic in Ventura Saturday February 3, 2018 / 8am to 11am

Intro to Fly Fishing the Surf in Pismo – Sunday February 11, 2018 / 8am to 11am

https://kernriverflyshop.com/t/fly-fishing-in-the-surf-clinics

Private Guided Fly Fishing in the Surf

https://kernriverflyshop.com/products/private-guided-fly-fishing-in-the-surf-half-day

Click here for more info!

Guide Deal 2018

The deal you have all been waiting for! Buy Now – Schedule Later! Purchase a Full-Day Guide Trip for 2018, enter Promo Code “GUIDEDEAL2018” upon checkout and receive $100 OFF! Only 25 “Guide Deal Specials” available to purchase! Hurry before they are gone! (3 Guide deals left)

Offer valid until January 26th! Tell a friend!

$100.00 off Full Day Guide Trip

Click here to purchase!

Kern River Fly Fishing Report October 10, 2017

 

Upper Kern 20 Mile Section

Flows on the 20 mile section are around 250 cfs and the river continues to fish world class as many rainbow are being caught up and down in this section. Water temps are starting around 45 degrees and warming up to about 52 degrees in the afternoon. Rainbows are very active in the afternoon. There is a  BWO hatch at 1pm ish. Streamers are working well casting down and across and stripping back up stream in the seams. Below are some clients this week and some of their catches. A lot of first time fly fishers catching their first fish on a fly. Woo hoo!!!

Below are some links to flies we are using at this time on the upper Kern.

20 Mile Section Nymph Package

20 Mile Section Dry Fly Package

20 Mile Mega Fly Selection

Lake Isabella – Fishing good for bass from the shore. Poppers!

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – Fishing excellent for bass at this time.

4 Mile Wild Trout Section above Johnsondale Bridge- Fishing good!

South Fork of the Kern Some sections are fishing fantastic and some aren’t fishing very well.

Beginner Class #1 learning to fly cast for the first time.

Upcoming Clinics

Beginner Fly fishing in the Surf Clinic – Saturday November, 25, 2017

Click here for “Beginner Fly Fishing the Surf Clinic Packages”

Stoneflys Musical Events

Rockin River Beer and Music Festival Benefit Saturday October 21, 2017 Noon to 5pm@ Rivernook Campground Kernville CA – Flys go on @ 4pm https://www.kernvillebeerfest.com/

Discovery -Ventura Friday November 24, 2017 @7pm

 

 

 

Kern River Fly Fishing Report September 5, 2017

Upper Kern 20 Mile Section

Flows on the 20 mile section are around 600 cfs and the river continues to fish world class as many rainbow are being caught up and down in this section. This is the time to start fly fishing this section as water temps are holding around 60 degrees and rainbows are very active. Streamers are working well casting down and across and stripping back up stream in the seams.

Wild Trout in the 20 Mile Section

Below are some links to flies we are using at this time.

20 Mile Section Nymph Package

20 Mile Section Dry Fly Package

20 Mile Mega Fly Selection

Hooked up on the upper Kern

Teresa Omalley on the Upper Kern

Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – Blown Out

4 Mile Wild Trout Section above Johnsondale Bridge- Fishing good, but be careful wading in this section.

Southfork of the Kern Some sections are fishing fantastic and some aren’t fishing very well.

The southern Sierra small creeks continue to fish very well.

Beginner Clinic Saturday October 7, 2017

Register for the Beginner Clinic #1 Click Here!

Register for the Beginner Clinic #1 Rod Combo with Free Class Here!

Fly Fishing the Surf Clinic Registration

Kern River Fly Fishing Report June 19, 2017

FLY FISHING SMALL STREAMS OF THE KERN RIVER

Small Stream Clinic Tuesday June 27, 2017 Click here!

Small Stream Clinic  Saturday July 1, 2017 Click here!

A great alternative to fly fishing the upper Kern is the small creeks that are flowing into the upper and southern forks of the Kern river. There are hundreds of miles of small creeks to explore in the southern Sierra. Here you can catch Golden, Brown, Brooke, Rainbow, and Golden/Rainbow trout hybrids. Get out your 2 or 3 wt fly rod and explore and discover some amazing fishing. The creeks and fish are healthy and doing well.

These small creeks are home to wild fish and are not stocked. Please use single barbless hooks when fishing these areas and practice catch and release techniques.

Learn more about “Catch and Release” here.

 

Flies to use on the small creeks – Click here Southern Sierra Dry Fly Package

Great rod to use on the small creeks is the new Redington Vice 3wt

Order a Redington Vice Fly Rod and you receive a 25.00 gift card from Redington

SOUTH FORK OF THE KERN

The south fork of the Kern is blown out and not fishing well at this time.

LAKE ISABELLA

Recent stocking in Lake Isabella of 5 to 10 pound trout has produced some nice fish this week in Kissack and Paradise Coves. These are leftovers from the Lake Isabella Fishing Derby in April. Look for these fish to be heading into the north and south forks of the Kern real soon.

With the Upper and Lower Kern pushing the limits with record breaking flows, we are fortunate enough to have an alternative location to fish: Lake Isabella.  With the massive influx of water, which we have not had in the lake since May of 2007, these conditions are bound to create a healthy habitat and grounds for the fish to become extremely active. At the present time, here you will come across trout, bass, crappie and even carp, which are a challenge to land on the fly!

Fly Fishing For Lake Isabella Carp – Epic

Carpaholic Jon Hart with a monster Isabella Carp on the Fly
Andrew from Rhino Nets hooked up hard on a Isabella Carp.
Stoked!
Another local Kernvillian Carpaholic – Celine with on a nice one on the fly!
Phillip and a Isabella Carp. It’s time to bring the Carpthrowdown to Lake Isabella.

UPPER KERN FLY FISHING REPORT

The Upper Kern River is definitely running strong at approximately 7,300 CFS.  The upper Kern River is blown out and not fishing well.

FORKS OF THE KERN

With the current flows and forecasted run off, it is going to be a couple of months before we can even access the Forks. In the meantime,  try hitting up some of the smaller streams, creeks and tributaries running into the main Kern River or Little Kern.

We are once again offering our 4×4 trips for 2017!

Stay tuned for the dates or go to our website  for more information.

4×4 trips for 2017