The rise and fall of fishing

Matt Freeman

Fishing patterns have kind of been changing around here with the heat of the summer on.

As the lake is receding it seems a bit harder to catch than when it was rising. The trout bite up by the cemetery has pretty much dried up and won't be back again until the fall. Bass are in their typical summer pattern of laying low and feeding only in early mornings and late evenings, and the crappie are deep and hard to find.

However, the catfish are biting very well, and so are the Bluegill. This has been a great year for Bluegill. Find some place with structure and use small jigs or even better mealworms, waxworms or redworms, and the Bluegill will give you a fun time all day.

A lot of folks think panfishing is just for kids, well I must be a big kid then because I love it! Not to mention that Bluegill are really great eating and there are some bigger ones being caught this year. Have not seen any of the pound plus variety but sold 1/2 to 3/4 LB Bluegill are coming in. Target Rocky Point, Piney Point, the South Fork around structure and the face of both Dams.

The catfish bite is just stellar right now, and some of the big kitties have been coming in. In the South Fork, the cats have been coming in during the day even, both on the bottom and on bobbers with about 3 feet of leader and either cut bait or live shad if you can get them. The Channel Cats in particular prefer the mid-range part of the water column and will hit a bobbered bait with veracity. They are great eating, a lot of fun, and they get big!!

If you can't get Trout out of your system, as I can't, head up the Kern. The river is absolutely beautiful right now and the fishing has been very good all through the drainage. Now until the start of the cold season is the time to hit the Upper Kern, it is a great Fall fishery. Also don't forget the Lower Kern. The water levels are still pretty high but there are bunch of fish in there. I also want to mention a relatively unknown fishery that we have in the Lower Kern, Smallmouth Bass. The Lower Kern has a very good population of Smallmouth Bass and they are real fun to catch. They usually run 1/2 LB to a pound or so but I have caught 2's and 3's out of there before, just have to catch enough to get to them. Smallmouth are school fish and if you can find one, others are nearby.

It is kind of an unknown fishery around here because they do not bite year around and you never hear about them being stocked, because they aren't. Last time they were stocked was in the 60's and they have a self-sufficient population now.

So please, practice catch and release and remember the rules for Smallies are the same as for Largemouth, can't keep more than 2 per day and they have to be 15'' or longer. Keep more, and I hope you get caught!! It is a great fishery and little known, don't abuse it. Target large pools and riffles with worms or any bass gear you have but micro size it, go SMALL. Smallmouth also love white for some reason, every time I go out I tear them up on white Roostertails. So give that fishery a try on the Lower Kern, it is a lot of fun.

Til next time, tight lines and loose drags.