Upper Kern June 22-29

[THansen]

Made it out of OC and up to the upper Kern on 6-22/ Limestone campground was still full at 9 AM, so I had to wet my line at the Brush Creek parking area. Landed 2 fish in about 45 minutes. There were 4 guys that had been fishing before I arrived. They all looked with amazement as I pulled in the fish. Apparently, they had been fishing all morning with no results. I heard them mention that I got lucky. I offered them lessons and made an offer to put up some cash and have a fishing derby. I was joking with them. "This aint my first time to the rodeo"
Water was much higher than last year. I come up the same time each year. Water is clear but running a little high to allow wading. I have fished high water, low water and raging water.
I figured the high water would put the fish in the eddies and pocket water along the shore. I caught more small wild fish this year than the last 5 years combined. I was catching alot of fish, but very few stockers. Fishing mainly salmon eggs. This is by far the most productive bait on the Kern. If there is something better, I want to buy 5 cases of it.
Fished all around the Limestone area. I avoided the campground because I leave that for the folks that wont venture out. Once I got out of the campground I started to nail the cookie cutter stockers.
Went up Brush creek about 2 miles. Nice hike, cool fotos, but very few fish. I caught all the fish within 1/2 of the Kern. Wont be doing this for another 3-4 years.
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Fished Roads Ends day area one evening. Caught several fish, Good mix of the smaller bait steelers and the stockers. Nice safe spot to fish with the kids. The water is flat and slow. An accidental dip in the water doesnt have to be fatal here.
The best fish of the trip was a solid 3 lb pulled off the nose of alligator rock in Limestone. I was waiting for friends to raft by and was casting eggs and slow retrieve., At first, I thought it was a $ucker fish. Ran hard and had some weight. I played the fish until I got color, then I carried the pole to my daughter. She did the final honors. This fish was a light brown and had a beautiful red lateral stripe. I figured it has been in the area for awhile and the coloration was based on the light colored sandy bottom.
We turned it loose. nice lip hookset. Several along the beach wanted it for dinner and were shocked when we released it. My answer was, "How cool would it be for a 7 year kid to hook into that fish next week". It is still in there. THis was the best fish of the trip.
Did manage 2 others that were a solid 1 1/2 lbs.
I did keep a few planters that were bleeders. I will cut the line on a fish that is hooked deep, but if it is bleeding bad, I will keep it. I had plenty of mouths at camp. Nothing was wasted.
Landed a nice 12" brown in Limestone. Havent caught a quality brown in this area in years. Truely a trophy in my book

Went up near Horse Meadow and fished for some Golden Hybrids. Beautiful fish only matched by the meadow stream they are found in. Fish are very small, but colorful.
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There were 3 deaths at the Kern this week. Very sad. But it happens every year.
FYI:
Saw more snakes (gopher, rattlers) this year than the past 5 years combined. I killed a rattler that was crawling out of my camp as I walked back one evening. I am not a snake killer, but it was in my camp and there were too many small kids playing on the ground.
It was obvious that the snake had just fed. opened it up and it was a ground squirrel. Had fed in the past few hours.
Caught or saw 5 gopher snakes, several garter snakes and one striped racer.
Overall:
Fishing was slow on stockers. By slow I mean, 20 fish days. I have fished the area for over 20 years and I expect 40-50 fish. I dont think Limestone has been stocked in awhile. they didnt stock when I was there last week.
Water is still too high to consider much wet wading.

[Sparky75]

Thanks for the nice report. We need more reports like that now that we have a new forum.

75S

[FISH ON]

great report thanson. keep them coming . sounds like a trip that you and your family will remember from now on.