Kern trip July 13-15

[kernriverlover]

Well headed up for a lodge stay at Falling Waters Sunday about 4am. Coming from Fresno, went up through Quaking Aspen, beautiful drive. Started down the Canyon and was on the Main river about 7am. Water looked dirty but skys were clear at that point. Somewhere around Salmon Creek it cleared up a bit to fish but no bites. Had the three kids with us and were meeting some family from LA. Decided to go down to the Lake for a while since its about 3-4 to check in. Kids had a blast at the lake even though the lake was a gross green. Every cast for the kidos was a fish...tiny fish but do they care...NOPE. Havent got the pics developed yet and will post when i do. Met up with the fam at the lake and headed on down after a few hrs to the lodge. Started to rain pretty good and sat out til 4 when we could move into the room. Rained pretty much all night but for us coming from Fresno, felt great. Nice enough to sit out in shorts and tanks. River got even more chocolate milky and foamy and had a smell of mud off it. Never saw it like that but from the fires it turned almost black. Monday went to the main river and after about 2hrs rain hit again with a vengence. Packed up and headed back to the lodge. Boy oh boy did it rain. Still swam in the pool there but sure wasnt getting any type of tan OR fish...darn it. Tuesday headed back around noon up to Johnsondale to check out the pools there...kids really wanted a big fish to eat. My assumption is they stopped stocking up there, creeks are just too low BUT clear and not a camper in sight. Going back in two weeks the 29th in hopes to stay in a tent on the main river. Hopefully the mud will settle and we can catch some fish with the kids. On the way back up, in all the years we have gone was the grossest river ive seen...pure black running over the rocks with the smell of mud. How in the world do the fish survive in that???? Will they????

Anyway, even though it was a brown river, its still always a good time at the kern. Cant wait to rough it with the kids, mud or not. Anyone do any good at the lake this past few days?

[Gary C.]

Sounds like a great weekend with the family, thank's for posting. I think you are right about many of the smaller creeks no longer getting stocked because of the warmer water. The DFG should continue to stock the Kern thru most of the summer though.
Gary C.