Lincoln Blanco

Have you seen our lake and river lately!? A lot of local valley residents would agree, we haven’t seen the water this high since ‘06. Now as someone who has spent his entire week and weekend around the lake and river, let me tell you something right now, it is high!

While at the lower Kern, I had the chance to catch up with Marvin from the fish hatchery. Marvin was stocking some huge rainbow trout, even the river guides from Whitewater Voyages were amazed at the size. Marvin asked if I could stress the seriousness of staying out of the middle of the river to fish, and I couldn’t agree more. People when the river is this high and fast, there is no need to wade out to the middle just to cast your line in. The trout are not going to be fighting that fast current, and wasting all that energy to eat. The trout will be along the river banks, catching the food that is being pushed to the side. So stick to “River Fishing Basics.” Fish the calm part right after a rapid, look for drops offs, deep areas, and underwater vegetation. Other great places you want to fish are under overhanging brush and trees. Right now with the river this high, chances are the fish are going to be two feet in front of you around these areas. So just make sure your shadow is behind you in the water, and barely chuck your line out there. What is really great about this time of the year, and all that snow melting, is the creeks are full. Meaning you have a good chance of catching yourself a brown trout, or golden trout. Now golden trout are a little more rare, and harder to get too. So unless you know where to exactly go, I suggest hiring a fishing guide. As for brown trout, those are a little more plentiful and can be caught right in the upper river. The key is to look where a creek enters the river. Chances are a brown trout will be near by.

As for the lake, where aren’t the fish biting!? You have so much new vegetation and underwater obstacles the fish look for. The whole mouth of the river, by the cemetery, is just a huge melting pot of fish. You have your trout right there looking for the cold water, and the bass are just loving all those trees toward the camp 9 side of the lake. Bluegill and crappy are just loving the brush in shallows, especially in the Southlake area. As for catfish, get yourself some meal worms, and head to the end of East Evans Rd., where the flume begins. You will have yourself a grand ol’ time reeling in those kitties.

So just get out there people! Summer is here in the Kern River Valley, and we have high water. But always remember, it’s called fishing and not catching.