Fish/what to use?

[Slaytanic1]

I am on the way up this weekend (the first weekend of October) and want to know what I should be fishing with (tackle wise) just north of Kernvile. Done this trip the last four years and have not enjoyed the prosparity that I keep reading about from others. Would really apriciate any and all sug. Thanks See you soon.

[Gary C.]

I was up there this past weekend and all of us did well. I only fish the kern with flys but a buddy of mine did excellent with a wieghted bobber and a salmon egg drifted underneith about 2ft. No splitshot, just a single egg hook and let the current do the rest.
Gary C.

[Klutz from Corona]

Ya know, I think I saw your buddy last year - late in year when water was low and I was relaxing on a little knoll overlooking bout 50 yards of shallow pocket water. This spin fisherman with same exact rig you discribed started fishing right below me. He was fishing downstream and I thought to myself, not a chance he would catch a fish. Well, the way he worked that bobber with the short tippet and salmon egg was a thing of beauty. Never thought there were that many trout in the section - for every trout he hooked, 4 or 5 would come up and look at it. Fishing downstream has two disadvantages - you are very easy to spot and then the spooked trout will spook other trout. I headed downstream and waited for him to finish the section - yakked with him for a couple of minutes and complimented him on his expertise on reading the water and his presentation - being a devote fly fisherman, that was tough for me............Gave the trout 15 minutes or so to calm down and started working upstream fishing my ole standby, gold ribbed hares ear cream colored nymph. Did pretty good but having a pretty good idea bout the number of trout in that section and where they were, I was very disapointed or maybe my pride was hurt cause that spin fisherman sure knew his business and had bested me! It was a great afternoon and a wonderful learning experience - by the way, all my trout were released.

[Max]

We just got back on Sunday, really fun trip, even though there were lots of people. I tried salmon eggs with fare results, but when I switched over to Panther Martins, it was Game On! First off, fish the whitewater. If you don't have any Panthers, stop at James store in Kernville and get some. The ones we kept all had pink meat and nice size, the water is really low. Good luck, and let us know how you did?

[Gary C.]

Klutz,
I know he fishes the Kern several times a year so it could have been him. It was the first time that I have seen someone freeline an egg below a bobber. When I used to spin fish eggs it was always on the bottom with just enough split shot to get it down.
Gary C.

[Slaytanic1]

Great advcice,Will keep you posted .(perhaps some pix.)

[Klutz from Corona]

Gary - That was a first for me too - many many years ago back in upstate NY, I used to fish worms and minnows in streams for brown trout. Always fished them upstream for the natural drift - pin head minnows and little red worms fished on 2 lb test mono with a size 16 hook with a little wraparound lead was a killer. Never used a bobber. The few times I've fished spinning lures was always quartering it downstream although I have fished them upstream with pretty darn good results - I fish a brace of wet flies by quartering it downstream ( up to 3 on a leader - 2 droppers and 1 at the end). A "blast" when you get a double and your lucky to land 1. Even a BIGGER "blast" when you get a "birds nest" with the leader and the flies all tangled up - usually carry 2 premade "setups" so all you have to do is save the flies and wrap up the leader material in one of your fishing vest pockets) Fish streamers and bucktails the same way.............and when I saw this guy with the bobber fishing it downstream, I figured that he was part of the 95% that really don't catch trout - only the ones that are bent on suicide. And having watched him in complete amazement for the better part of an hour cause he was thorough - worked every pocket as he slowly went back and forth across the stream. I think about it often and I know I could never do that - well maybe with many hours of practice. It was a perfect afternoon - the water was crystal clear and low (probably around 300 fps) and the sun was at the right angle where I could see any movement in the stream - especially the red salmon egg as the current carried it along and the shadows of the rainbows and the rainbows as they darted around at it. It is a pleasure to watch a master at work! When you see him, please thank him for me for making my day complete! Klutz

[THansen]

Nice to see that those of use that use spinning gear get a little props. I respect the fact that a fellow angler (albeit a fly tosser) would praise another angler.
There have been many a day when I wish I was more proficient at tossing flys. Primarily for dry flies, fishing nymphs is similar to tossing bait (IMO) Fish are rising and use another word off the top. And there I stand with my spinning gear throwing eggs and spinners.
In my earlier years, I used to toss an egg with a bobber while fishing the Kern. the current was too fast and I couldnt follow my line, So I used the bobber as a indicator. Fly guys use strike indicators, I was simply borrowing one of their tricks.
I was since moved away from the bobber, but after reading this report. I may have to try this technique. I am guessing there are a lot fewer snags and lost tackle
I am thinking that there has to be lower water flows; otherwise, the bait is ripped to the surface as the line pulls tight.