Lower Kern River 12/1 (non-yak)

Went trout fishing on Sat at the Lower Kern.  I started at Sandy Flat campground and hiked along the Hobo Fishing Trail to Hobo Flat Campground.  I caught a bunch of stockers on Panther-Martin spinners and maybe 1 or 2 wild trout . . I haven't caught enough trout to be able to say for sure which are stockers and which are wild.  I think the one in this photo is a stocker.

I've been to the lower kern 3x now and I'd say it's a great winter fishing destination - you should go if you get the chance.  The fishing is usually decent for me. .maybe better for others since I am a trout fishing newbie.  This was my best outing yet with about 14 rainbows (10-14inches).  I usually catch a lot less than that but at least 1 or 2.

The water looked very kayakable this time. . in the one to 1.5 miles I hiked there would have been no portages required and nothing more than riffles.  There are not too many days of the year you could really think about kayak fishing the lower kern  . .I wished I would've had my yak gear with me.

NICE ONE-

Nice!

There are not too many days of the year you could really think about kayak fishing the lower kern

Nice scenery.  Does that river usually rage?

I have actually taken my tandem down from the power house to Lake Isabella.  Is that close to where you were?

The upper Kern is natural flow from Sierra snowmelt so in Spring it flows fast and slow in Summer/Fall. Lake Isabella was formed when the dam was built so the lower section has a flow that varies by conditions overall from farming needs in Bakersfield, rainfall, and so it's not a SOT destination, rather a river kayak destination. Each area gets a lot of pressure so it depends on the circumstances.

That is absolutely true.  But the lower section from the power house down to the lake is doable in canoes and kayaks at least in the fall and late summer.  I did it, no problem.  By my self, twice.  Then had my wife do it since it was so fun    .  I guess I will have to pull out a map and see where he was relative to the lake.

The Lower Kern (vs the upper) is based on the outflow from Lake Isabella and rages big-time in the spring and summer.  In fact, the area I was fishing was where the white-water slalom course is when it's high-water.  The last time I was there was in mid-October and I would not have considered doing it.  It would've been do-able and fun as a kayak-thing but it would've been tough fishing-wise.  The water is a lot lower now.  If I did decide to try it, though, I would scope the whole route out first because there are a lot of places where you can't portage so I really wouldn't want to encounter a 20 foot waterfall or something 1 mile into my trip.

Perhaps the powerhouse I am thinking of is not actually the powerhouse.  The thing I call the powerhouse is located right about where you enter the National Forest on 178 . .just past the sign that tells you that 268 people have drowned in the river since 1964 (or something like that).  It was about 15-20 miles downstream from Lake Isabella.  Where I was on the river was about 7-10 miles south of Lake Isabella.  Basically . .drive 178 from Bakersfield until it becomes a 65mph freeway . .it is the exit marked as "River Raft put-in" . . I forget the name of the road . .but it starts with a B.  Basically . .if you take 178E to Kern Canyon Rd . .you will also pass this campground (Sandy Flat).

In addition to my trips to the Lower Kern, I have also hit the Upper Kern twice.  I found the Upper Kern to be tougher fishing with more fishing pressure.  I've only hit the Lower Kern 3 times but I have yet to see it crowded with fisherman (trips in Late Sept, Mid Oct and Early Dec - all but one were Saturdays).  I thought the Upper Kern was kind of crowded (but not terrible) both times I hit it . .also Saturdays.

I never would consider trying to fish the Lower Kern during rafting season, though.  I can see from the litter at the high-water mark that it's quite a party here all summer long.  During the winter, though, it's perfect if you like peace and quite and some decent to pretty good fishing.