I went with family and friends to the upper Kern River this past week, the 6th thru 11th. We always try to go around this time every year because it seems like right after the major holiday, with school starting as well, the crowds are to a minimum. Usually we have the campground/river to ourselves for the first couple days. It was a bit more crowded than in the past due to warnings posted about Lake Isabella, apparently they are having a major algae bloom right now and having some dead fish wash up on shore, I don't think it's a big deal but the warnings were enough to deter people from using the lake, several people were in campsites with their ski-boats. First time I've seen that.

Weather was nice,low 90's with a steady breeze all day. I did more relaxing and BS'ing than fishing,trout fishing only holds my interest for so long.

Couple random on the water shots...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/kernriver05-3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/kernriver05-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/kernriver05-4.jpg

Average size fish was like 9 to 12" stockers. I only used crickets for bait , it's like shooting fish in a barrel most of the time but the fish were pretty spotty , you had to find the deeper pockets or rapids to get bit. I've been there before when every little rapid and hole held fish. I caught around 15 for the entire time.

Heres a shot of an average trout..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/trout.jpg

This little fish was very different looking to me, not sure if was just a juvenille rainbow or something else, too small to be a stocker, very silvery and the pinkish purple spots towards the tail made it look much different. Any guesses??
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/100_1661.jpg
Same fish, another shot..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/100_1660.jpg

And you can't forget the little ones, my niece and nephew with the biggest fish of the trip, I tossed out the cricket on a bobber for him and it was an instant hook-up. It was cool to see him fighting the fish, no action shots because I was holding on to him so the fish would not pull him in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/zeeksfish-2.jpg
They were both fine with us catching and releasing most of the fish we caught, it took more persuading for them to understand why I was putting the fish on a chain, cause your uncle wants a fish dinner :P

All were released but this one. Another shot showing it's belly more, it was a nice one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/PHISHnutS/zeeksfish.jpg

It was no Alaska or Utah but still nice to get away from the "city".