Last year, the California Department of Fish and Game sponsored a series of public meetings to gain input from California's anglers about trout hatchery operations in the state. One of the common themes that came from those public meetings is that California anglers would like more opportunity to catch bigger trout closer to home lakes and streams. It was not the first time the DFG had heard that particular message. They had already begun to evaluate whether or not big trout could be reared in DFG's hatcheries. A group of experimental two-year-old fish was already being reared at the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery in the town of Friant, to determine how large they could be grown and the comparative cost of rearing them to large size. Last year, 3,000 of the big fish were distributed into the Kings River to evaluate their popularity with anglers. The effort turned out to be popular and cost-effective; increasing local tourism. So the experiment continues: now, 1,000 more of the big fish, weighing four to seven pounds each, have been reared at San Joaquin Hatchery. They are being held in the ponds at Kern River Planting Base awaiting release into the Kern River this summer, to flex the fishing rods and break the lines of Kern River anglers, in the second phase of DFG's evaluations.

DFG selected the Kern River as the destination for these big trout because it is within a reasonable distance for millions of anglers, including hundreds of local anglers. So the fish would provide "close to home" angling, as requested by DFG's license-buying anglers. The Kern has over 20 miles of roadside access, plus, the existence of a hatchery facility nearby, at Kernville, making hauling of the big fish feasible for the DFG.

1,000 big trout will be distributed between the Johnsondale Bridge and Kernville, by hatchery Manager Greg Kollenborn and his staff of volunteers. The first load of about 250 big trout was stocked Thursday, June 15th. Future plants of 250 more of the big fish will occur every other week through the end of July. The future plants are scheduled for June 30th, July 14th and July 27th. These dates will best serve the 4th of July holiday and other periods of high mid-late summer river visitation. The big trout are in addition to the Kern's normal fish planting allotment of about 97,000 half-pound-size fish, and another 6,600 fish which are scheduled to be planted in Kern River tributary streams.

Anglers 16 years of age and older must possess and display a valid 2006 fishing license. The Kern River from Lake Isabella to Johnsondale Bridge is open to angling all year. The creel limit is 5 trout per day, with no more than 10 trout in possession. All legal angling methods are allowed on this reach of river.

From last year's Kings River evaluation, DFG learned that trout of larger sizes can be raised cost-effectively at DFG's San Joaquin Hatchery. The continuing evaluations will determine the popularity of these fish to anglers in a variety of additional localities, and evaluate associated local tourism benefits or impacts. There are many questions DFG biologists hope to gain answers to: will the fish attract anglers back who may not have been fishing in a few years?; will it provide a wholesome recreational option for young people?; will the fish spawn on their own after release?; will some big fish survive until the following year and be caught as ten or twelve pounders?; how far will anglers travel to enjoy this quality of fishing?; should the program be expanded? Answers to these questions will guide future decisions.