The North Fork of the Kern River, the most popular stretch in the eyes of trout anglers, has gone through some tough times the past few years.
The McNally Fire charred more than 150,000 acres of wilderness and riverfront land in the region north of Kernville. To make matters worse, a massive rainstorm dumped more than 22 inches of rain in a day throughout some parts of the Kern River Drainage, flooding the river and demolishing the banks of the North Fork.
Today, much of that vegetation along the river's edge has healed and so has the trout population, according to Kernville Hatchery manager Greg Kollenborn. Kollenborn and his staff have helped that cause by stocking more than 100,000 fish in the river. Beginning in March, the Department of Fish and Game plants the section above Kernville with mostly half-pound rainbows. In addition, the hatchery has established a trophy trout program that stocks another 4,000 3- to 5-pounders.
"We cover the entire roadside - some 50 miles," Kollenborn said. "But our main stocks stick primarily to the upper river above Lake Isabella, from Kernville to Brush Creek."
There's no denying the fire and flooding have changed the path of the river in some areas, forcing the locals to relearn the river's runs.
The flood, for example, hit the river so hard it altered the streambed in many places, uncovering boulders and digging up new gravel beds. And the fire added to the alteration by singeing the landscape so bad it still feeds silt and sediment into the system after a good rain.
"The sediment has changed some things," Kollenborn admitted. "The river has changed, but it's not necessarily a negative thing. You might not be able to fish the same hole you used to, but the fish are still going to be in there."
Guy Jeans, owner and main guide for the Kern River Fly Fishing Guide Service (1-866-FISH-876), says he's noticed a few shifts in the river's path but also agrees he enjoys the challenge of an evolving river. He adds the new sediment has helped bring new grasses and vegetation to the sandbank, resurrecting the insect life along the river.
So that's why he prefers to fish the North Fork, focusing most of his time on the section located just a couple miles north of his fly shop (if there's a closed sign in the window you know where to find him).
"I just love that stretch because of all the pockets and pools, riffles and runs," he said. "There's some big fish holding there, and you can get an occasional brown. In March and April, there's no one here, so the fishing is always pretty good." Depending on the amount of rain and runoff, of course. If the current is too strong, or if floating debris is present, Jeans cautions to leave the North Fork to the rafters and kayakers and move on to the South Fork or the Lower Kern.
But if conditions are calm, he won't hesitate to fish the infamous "Thunder Run" stretch, a Class IV-V run that rafters enjoy because it holds some of the deepest drops the state has to offer. It also holds trophy trout all year round. Trout that can be enticed by nymphs in the fall (pheasant tails and various bead heads are favorites), while dry flies can draw a rise around the calendar. Jeans suggests tying stimulators, various caddis and to make sure you have a plenty of Parachute Adams and Blue-Winged Olives in your box.
The North Fork above Isabella offers 25 miles of excellent access along Highway 155 from Kernville all the way up to Johnsondale Bridge located east of Johnsondale. Along with holdover trout from Isabella, the North Fork is stocked year round (sometimes on a weekly basis). Some of the top destinations include the campgrounds at Hospital Flat, Gold Ledge, Corral Creek, Limestone and at the power plant. Jeans also recomends tackling the tract behind Kernville Park.
"If it doesn't run off, there's also a serious stonefly hatch," he said of the early spring season. "Before the runoff, I'll go down behind the golf course there and catch some of the big holdovers that come up from the lake. If it gets too swollen, it's time to move on."
