Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round
We are in run off season with flows at 3000 cfs. Fishing the Upper Kern will be tough. The river will rise up to approximately 8000 CFS when the temperatures get warm. We recently had more snow in the high country of the Southern Sierra.
Upper Kern Flow Charts
Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section ( 4 miles above Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round – Catch and Release only!
This section is tough right now due to the higher flows!
We are now at 136% of normal snow pack for the Southern Sierra. It’s going to be a great year for fly fishing. Click on the link below for details.
Lake Isabella- The Tug is the Drug
Carp on the fly is HOT as the flats are here. Sight fishing for cloopers, cruisers and tailers have been very good. Slow sinking carpilicious and carp coachman are the ticket to these spooky fish. Want to learn how to target these hardy fighters? Book a guided Carp Trip. Click Here
Crappie and Bass are feeding heavily! Stripping streamers and jig heads have been very productive. Fish the flooded trees and you will find fish.
Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is flowing around 3200 cfs and remains the same as last week. The lower Kern River from Erskine Creek to Democrat Dam downstream to Hart Park is muddy.
Lower Kern Flow Charts
The small creeks of the Southern Sierra are fishing excellent!
4 x 4 Adventure Fly Fishing Trips
These trips are filling up! If you’re thinking about getting in on one of these trips, now is the time to sign up.
Lake Isabella- The Tug is the Drug
Carp on the fly is HOT as the flats are here. Sight fishing for cloopers, cruisers and tailers have been very good. Slow sinking carpilicious and carp coachman are the ticket to these spooky mud marlins. Want to learn how to target these hardy fighters? Join our Carp Clinic on May 11.
Crappie and Bass are feeding heavily! Stripping streamers and jig heads have been very productive.
Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is flowing around 2300 cfs and remains the same as last week. The lower Kern River from Erskine Creek to Democrat Dam downstream to Hart Park is muddy.
Lower Kern Flow Charts
4 x 4 Adventure Fly Fishing Trips
These trips are filling up! If you’re thinking about getting in on one of these trips, now is the time to sign up.
Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round
I put some other graphs of the upper Kern on here to show you the different flows in these 3 different sections in the 20 mile section. About 15 miles up from Kernville, there is a dam or intake for Powerhouse #3 in Kernville. They sometimes take water out , pump it through the mountain and put the water back in down at the powerhouse in Kernville. The flows in this 15 mile section can be lower if they are taking water out. Right now the flows in this section from the Fairview dam downstream are only 560 cfs. Very fun and fishable water in this section. The DFW also stocked this section yesterday for those interested in catching hatchery fish. The section below the powerhouse in Kernville where they are putting water back in is around 1700 cfs. A big difference. Fly anglers have been doing ok on the Tungsten Teddy and various attractor nymphs fished under an indicator. Check out the video below.
Upper Kern Flow Charts
Jackie with her first fish caught on a fly – Monday 3-18-19 on the upper Kern.
Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section ( 4 miles above Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round – Catch and Release only!
This section is fishing excellent at this time! Fly anglers are catching lots of fish in this section on stonefly nymphs.
We are now at 149% of normal snow pack for the Southern Sierra. It’s going to be a great year for fly fishing. Click on the link below for details.
Lake Isabella
Water level in the lake is at 138,170 acre feet. Carp Fly fishing is starting as the flats are filling in.
Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is flowing around 500 cfs and remains the same as last week. This is the best fishing water in the valley right now. Water temperatures down here are 48 degrees. Smallies and Largemouth are not biting at this time! Trout fly fishing is slow. The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is muddy. Check out the video below for a visual.
Lower Kern Flow Charts
4 x 4 Adventure Fly Fishing Trips
These trips are filling up! If you’re thinking about getting in on one of these trips, now is the time to sign up.
Friday April 19, 2019 in Morro Bay, CA @ 8pm The Siren w Ska Legends “Let’s GO Bowling”.
Saturday April 20, 2019 in Bakersfield @ 4pm 4/20Hops and Vibes Festival with Dub Seeds – Stramler Park
Saturday April 20, 2019 in Tehachapi CA @ 9pm @ The Shed – Stoneflys CD Release Party
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( The Question, After the Smoke, Rising Son), Tk – Bass (Lion I’s), Bernie Larsen – Guitar( Melissa Etheridge, Jackson Browne, Rickie Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, and Public Enemy) .
Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section ( 4 miles above Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round – Catch and Release only!
The Wild Trout Section is blown out until further notice!
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 and remains the same as last week. Water temperatures down here are 45 degrees. Smallies and Largemouth are not biting at this time! Trout fly fishing is slow. 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
These trips are filling up! If you’re thinking about getting in on one of these trips, now is the time to sign up.
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”.
Saturday April 20, 2019 in Bakersfield @ 4pm 4/20Hops and Vibes Festival with Dub Seeds – Stramler Park
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( The Question, After the Smoke, Rising Son), Tk – Bass (Lion I’s), Bernie Larsen – Guitar( Melissa Etheridge, Jackson Browne, Rickie Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, and Public Enemy) .
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.
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) .
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
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 .
Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round
Casey with a nice wild fish caught in the 20 Mile Section January 3, 2019Stomach sample taken on January 3, 2019
The 20 mile section is fishing ok not great with the colder water. The river is very clear. Water temps are at 36 to 40 degrees and this section is flowing at 220 cfs. Rainbows are more active in the afternoon as water temps rise a few degrees. They are rising to small Midges and Mayflies around 2pm. BWO Emergers 26, Psycho Mays 20, Midges, WD-40’s at size 22-26 have been productive. 6x-7x tippet is advised as fish get even more picky as the Winter season progresses. Red Kern Emergers 18 are working well.
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 200 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 210 cfs.
Lower Kern Flow Charts
Intermediate Fly Fishing Clinic
Saturday, January 5, 2019| 8AM- 4pm | Kernville, CA
Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round
The 20 mile section has been fishing very good and the river is clear . Rainbows are more active in the afternoon and rising to small Midges and Mayflies around 1pm. Water temps are at 44 to 50 degrees and this section is flowing at 190 cfs. BWO Emergers, Psycho Mays, Trico’s Midges, WD-40’s at size 22-26 have been productive. 6x-7x tippet is advised as fish get even more picky as the Fall/Winter season progresses. Red Kern Emergers 12-18 are working well.
Dayna D. – Upper Kern Rainbow
Upper Kern Flow Charts
Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section ( 4 miles above Johnsondale Bridge) Open Year Round
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. Water temps up here are a few degrees cooler and remember that this section of the Kern is Catch and Release from November 15 to the last Saturday of April.
California Creekin– The season for Creekin in the Southern Sierra is now closed.
New Embroidered Kern River Fly Shop Hats in stock!
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 200 cfs. Water temperatures down here are 50 degrees. Smallies and Largemouth are slowing down! The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is flowing around 240 cfs.
Lower Kern Flow Charts
Beginner Clinic #1
Saturday December 8, 2018 | 8AM – 12pm | Kernville CA
Upper Kern River 20 Mile Section (north of Kern River Fly Shop to Johnsondale Bridge)
The 20 mile section has been fishing well in this cooler Fall weather. Rainbows are more active in the afternoon and rising to small Midges and Mayflies around 1pm. Water temps are at 48 to 50 degrees and this section is flowing at 190 cfs and very clear. BWO Emergers, Psycho Mays, Trico’s Midges, WD-40’s at size 22-26 have been productive. 6x-7x tippet is advised as fish get even more picky as the Fall/Winter season progresses.
This is a recent stomach sample!
Upper Kern Flow Charts
Upper Kern River Wild Trout Section ( 4 miles 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. Water temps up here are a few degrees cooler and remember that this section of the Kern is Catch and Release from November 15 to the last Saturday of April.
California Creekin– The season for Creekin in the Southern Sierra is now closed.
New Embroidered Kern River Fly Shop Hats in stock!
Lake Isabella
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.
Lower Kern River below Isabella Lake – The Lower Kern River from Isabella dam down to democrat is flowing around 200 cfs. Water temperatures down here are 54 degrees. Smallies and Largemouth are solid! The lower Kern River from Democrat Dam to downstream to Hart Park is flowing around 240 cfs.
Lower Kern Flow Charts
Beginner Clinic #1
Saturday December 8, 2018 | 8AM – 12pm | Kernville CA
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
