Bass Fishing Bakersfield

[Tim3839]

I will be visiting Bakersfield 11-16-18 to 11-23-18. Looking for place to bass fish or an open seat. Willing to split cost of gas and anything else. I live in the Salem Oregon area willing to return the favor anytime you are in Oregon. Wife said we are pulling the second home, NOT THE BOAT.. I had to give in on that one. We have an understanding, our son and I don't do anything between March and Oct. but fish! I got the better deal.

 

Thanks for your help

Tim

[OCdockskipper]

I was going to make some snarky response about Bakersfield being in the middle of the desert, but when I pulled up a map, it shows the Kern river going right through the center of town.  I have no idea if that is a real river or a dry river bed like the Santa Ana river is here in Orange County.  

 

If you don't get much response here, it may be worth just pulling up a map of the town and giving some out of the way spots a shot (on foot) when you get there.

[iceintheveins]

Irrigation diversions often dry up the Kern, but in other stretches it does have smallies I believe.

 

[Angry John]

There are several options as the upper kern is the better section imo.  There are bass in the lower kern and some pools.  Sandy flats campground is one of the better areas with larger deeper pools.  Lake Isabella is way down from when I fished there as a kid but the back opposite the dam had a bunch of timber and I liked targeting the canyons.  The upper kern is mostly stocked trout and I did a lot of trout catching on 66 and 7' ml spinning rods on 4lb test.  Salmon eggs were the ticket most times but live bugs caught a bunch also behind a single split shot.  The highland lakes are also nice bank fished a few near the 100 giants area.  Highly recommend spending a few days up there exploring.

[WRB]

Lakes Isabella, Success, Pine Flat, I Believe are within 1 hour drive of Bakersfield, maybe a little further. Lakes Hensley and Eastman are a little further as I recall.

All have decent bass fishing, finding someone to share a boat with? Try contacting a local bass club, I don't know anyone in the area.

Isabella at one time was a world class bass fishery, now it's still good but the dam was condemned and can only be 1/3rd of full pool size. 

Tom

[burrows]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

Lakes Isabella, Success, Pine Flat, I Believe are within 1 hour drive of Bakersfield, maybe a little further. Lakes Hensley and Eastman are a little further as I recall.

All have decent bass fishing, finding someone to share a boat with? Try contacting a local bass club, I don't know anyone in the area.

Isabella at one time was a world class bass fishery, now it's still good but the dam was condemned and can only be 1/3rd of full pool size. 

Tom

Didn’t you come out on infisherman with an article at this lake? 

[WRB]

5 hours ago, Burrows said:

Didn’t you come out on infisherman with an article at this lake? 

Yes, A Rare Chance at AWorld Record, In -Fisherman 1986. Today the lake still produces a few big bass, very few. Extreme low water at Isabella cools the core water temperature with the Kern Rivers, north and south forks, flowing cold water into and out of the lake year around. Still a good bass lake.

Tom

[Caliyak]

On 11/9/2018 at 8:08 AM, Tim3839 said:

I will be visiting Bakersfield 11-16-18 to 11-23-18. Looking for place to bass fish or an open seat. Willing to split cost of gas and anything else. I live in the Salem Oregon area willing to return the favor anytime you are in Oregon. Wife said we are pulling the second home, NOT THE BOAT.. I had to give in on that one. We have an understanding, our son and I don't do anything between March and Oct. but fish! I got the better deal.

 

Thanks for your help

Tim

I fish from a kayak so I can't help with the seat. But, in Bako, the California Aqueduct is huge. If you are on Facebook, look up a group called Poor Man Aqueduct Fishing. Those anglers are always helpful and the admin is named Ricky, good guy. Reach out to him. They fish for catfish, some bass but stripers are king in the Duct. Also in Bako, the Kern river and lake Isabella is big. There is a few man made lakes with restrictions. Call up Bob's Bait Bucket and Cope's Rod and tackle for info. There is a trout derby this weekend at one of the lakes. They just stocked it and the lake is closed all week. Bakersfield is very limited but there is some spots.

Also, if you want to make a drive south, Pyramid and Castaic.

The bass club that I follow is called Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments. they have a facebook, instagram and website. Reach out to them. But, they are a 40 minutes drive north up here in Porterville and fish Lake Success, Lake Kaweah and our central lakes. These are all rock and cement dam reservoirs so drop shot, jigs, bush hogs and cranks along the rocks is the best options. The pool at Lake success is at 8% so the levels are really low. We also have fly fishing in the mountains for wild trout.

But for the big girls, Eastman Lake in Chowchilla but that is a two hour drive for you. the bass average 3-4 lbs and only one can be taken home if it meets requirements. So the bass grow big at Eastman.

You can't go wrong with some Central coast ocean fishing if you decide to go over the hill. Perch from the shore is cool. Basic carolina rig with MH bass gear and sand worms from Yum. Pier fishing is also cool with shrimp or squid.

But the best thing to do, on the way here and on the way back, take a day or two and fish the delta. There are KOAs and RV parking along the Delta. You can hit the banks for the pigs with Jigs, frogs and drop shot in the cover. There are many guides up there. The Bass Pro is in Manteca, call them up for some help. There's always activities and tournaments on the delta. Rent a kayak if you have to. Look up this spot tikilagoon.com for RV parking and enjoy the Delta. 

I'm here if you need any help. You must go to the Buck Owen Crystal Palace. Good food and good country music. Take your wife to the Bluffs for a romantic walk at sunset to earn fishing points. LOL And you are coming during the playoffs of high school football. Plenty to do and the weather will be in the 70 s during the day and 40s at night.

[WRB]

Update on Isabella,the dam was updated and the lake is currently being filled, should be at full pool in a few months. Good news!

Tom