The 20-mile stretch of the Upper Kern is one of the best bets for trout fishing. Weekly plants have kept it well stocked and ideal flows have made fishing excellent up here. Trout have been coming from Riverside Park in Kernville to Johnsondale Bridge on salmon eggs, minijigs, spinners and pinched crawlers. Fly anglers have been scoring both stocks and natives on dry-droppers and nymphing. The Upper Kern River was stocked this week in Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge. The Lower Kern trout bite is improving with the plants this week. The Lower Kern was stocked in all three sections from the mouth of canyon to Isabella Dam. Trout have been coming on salmon eggs, trout jigs, GULP! pinched crawlers and garlic scented Powerbait. The Lower Kern was stocked this week in the following sections: Section 1, Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar, Section 2, Sandy Flat to Democratic Beach; Section 3, Sandy Flat to the Isabella Dam. The Lower Kern bass bite is fair to good on crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. Catfish can be found on dip baits, nightcrawlers and cut baits. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River was flowing at 261 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 268 CFS.