LAKE ISABELLA: The crappie action still a very good bite on small minnows in Brown’s and Jauchin’s coves in the South Fork arm. The largemouth bass bite has been pretty good showing on Senkos and deep-diving cranks. The catfish action also remains very good in Stein and Robinson coves on frozen shad and clams with lots of fish from two pounds and up. Trout action is still good at the auxiliary dam on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Bluegill finally starting to improve. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

KERN RIVER: Flows have dropped in the upper river, but the fishing is still tough. Stocks the last couple of weeks are keeping the bite petty good on salmon eggs and crawlers. The lower river is still pretty high and tough to fish, but anglers are getting trout after last week’s plants. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or James Store 760-376-2424.

LAKE ISABELLA: Trout action has continued good and the last plants of 15,000 penned fish go into the lake this week for this weekend’s (Saturday through Monday) 21st Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby. This event has over $200,000 in potential tagged fish prizes this year. For more information go to www.derby.kernrivervalley.com. Some surface action for fly anglers in the mornings, but most of the action is on floating baits or trolled lures. The largemouth bass bite broke wide open this past week with a lot of quality fish. Two Bakersfield anglers caught and released 54 bass over the weekend, including 31 fish over six pounds, and the best fish was a nine-pounder. The bass have been on plastics, cranks, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits. Also some improving catfish action with a pretty fair bite, mostly in the North Fork arm and mostly on frozen shad. A few crappie starting to show again, too, but still light fishing pressure. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

River Walk Trout are on right now.
There has been two plantings recently and the fish are biting.

Reports on the new Garlic Mint Power Bait Dip seems to be the key.

Truxtun Lake and Ming Lake have also received multiple plantings recently.

HART PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago. Fair action on floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers doused with garlic scent. Other species are very slow.

TRUXTUN LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago. Just fair trout action. Other species very slow.

LAKE ISABELLA: The largemouth bass action remains good best action on plastics, Senkos, cranks, minnows, and early morning topwater. The crappie bite has been fair to good, best bite on live minnows. The catfish action has been very good, especially for anglers fishing frozen shad, but Sonny’s Dip Bait and clams are also good.

LAKE ISABELLA: The crappie bite is still pretty good for boat and float tube anglers fishing in the South Fork Arm of the lake, but it takes some work to get a limit now and most of the fish are under a pound. The best bite is still on small jigs and minnows. The bass bite has improved with a fair to good bite on plastics, minnows, and cranks. Trout action is still very good, with a lot of limits reported on spinners and Power Bait, with fish up to 2 pounds and some bigger.

LAKE ISABELLA: Trout action is very good after DFG trout plants last week and the week before. Most fish around a pound and showing on floating baits or inflated nightcrawlers. Largemouth bass, crappie and catfish all still slow, but warming weather could turn that around overnight. Upcoming events: Trout derby set for April 4-6. There will be 1,000 tagged fish worth cash, including a $20,000 fish and 10 fish at $10,000 each. Applications are available at kernrivervalley.com.

The Bakersfield Californian Reports

LAKE ISABELLA:
Very good trout action on Gulp Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs. The best action has been in Paradise Cove and by the dam. A decent number of fish have been landed in the three to four-pound range. Also a fair to good catfish bite at the dam on shad and minnows. DFG trout plant this week.

The Bakersfield Californian Reports

LAKE ISABELLA:
Crappie bite fair to good on small minnows. Good trout bite on nightcrawlers or Power Bait. DFG trout plant this week. Also pretty decent action on catfish for anglers fishing near the dam.

KERN RIVER:
Last trout plant was in late November on both the upper and lower. There are not likely to be more plants in the near term. Fish are still in the upper and lower areas, but the pressure has been light so the action is slow to fair.