Kern River Fish Report for 8-21-2026
Anglers are beginning to see more native trout in the mix compared to holdovers
Kern River - CA

by Chad Burton and Chris Borden
8-21-2026
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The Upper Kern has not been stocked for the past couple of months, and anglers are beginning to see more native trout in the mix compared to holdovers. Throughout the popular 20-mile stretch, trout are being caught on artificials, mini jigs, worms, crickets, and salmon eggs. Fly anglers are also doing well with attractor nymphs, bead-head Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Parachute Adams, and small streamers worked through deeper pockets and behind boulders. On the Lower Kern, the smallmouth bass bite remains steady, with double-tail grubs on finesse jig heads and Roostertails producing fish. Catfish action is also consistent on worms, chicken liver, and cut bait. As of this report, flows are running around 196 CFS on the Upper Kern and 1,106 CFS on the Lower Kern.
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More Reports
Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop Reports
for Friday, August 21st
California Aqueduct: Reports indicated increased angling in the southern aqueduct
Castaic Lake: Fishing was decent at Castaic, with all species readily available
Pyramid Lake, CA: The lake remained at 93 percent of its storage capacity, and water clarity was poor
Lake Isabella: Fishing remains very good throughout the lake
Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop Reports
for Friday, August 14th
California Aqueduct: Dedicated aqueduct anglers got out early to their favorite spots and found good fishing
Castaic Lake: Castaic Lake’s water level sat at 93 percent, and fishing slowed a bit
Pyramid Lake, CA: Water clarity remained poor
Lake Isabella: Despite the continued drawdown, the bass bite remains strong
Kern River: The Upper Kern flows are very low and hasn’t received a trout plant in over a month
Lake Kaweah: Anglers reported another week of finesse fishing for spotted bass
Lake Success: Lake Success Fishing Report
River Walk Lakes: The extreme heat made fishing a little tougher this past week
Ming Lake: The bass bite at Ming Lake remains solid
Buena Vista Lakes: Bass anglers reported decent fishing at BV
Hart Park Lake: Hart Park anglers reported a tougher bite during daylight hours
Lake Nacimiento: The lake fell to 45 percent of its storage capacity, and bass continued to take anything offered on the surface
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