Upper Kern trout plants and Lower Kern bass keep Central Valley anglers busy

Cope’s Tackle’s Sept. 11, 2026 Kern River report splits the river in two. The Upper Kern was scheduled for a trout plant this week in Sections 5 and 6. Anglers are finding fish in deeper pools, slower eddies, and river bends on yellow and gold bead-head nymphs, salmon eggs, and small trout jigs.

On the Lower Kern, bass fishing has been strong through the canyon and around Democrat. The shop lists Z-Man and Crush City Ned rigs, small crankbaits, and Roboworms on the drop-shot. Catfish are coming on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and cut bait.

Flows at filing were about 174 cfs on the Upper Kern at Kernville and about 628 cfs on the Lower Kern. Check those gauges the morning you go, and confirm current CDFW trout-plant and bass rules for each section.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: NorCal Fish Reports — Kern River pools, eddies, and bends (Chad Burton & Chris Borden / Cope’s Tackle, Sept. 11, 2026).