Fly Fishing, Hiking, and Camping in California! || California Gold Pt 2 (Kern River Rainbow)
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Fly Fishing California for the Kern River Rainbow Trout!
Kern River rainbow trout are native to the Kern River and it's tributaries, from Lake Isabella upstream to the headwaters. In this video Andrew and I (Jon Hardman) attempt to catch this incredible native rainbow trout. After hiking around 14 miles we reached the upper end of the Kern River and made the realization that the river was high. This made the fishing very difficult. We were able to pick off a few of the kern river rainbow trout in the main river, including a really nice one. But we were saved by a small tributary towards the end of the day that produced multiple rainbow trout, including one particularly colorful specimen.
This adventure was as much about the trout themselves as it was about the rugged wilderness of California's back country. This area is rough and unforgiving. We ended up running into 3 black bears and 2 rattlesnakes on day 2 alone. I think sometimes you downplay the situation you're in. In this case being 20 miles in the wilderness with black bears and rattlesnakes slithering through camp. Realistically one wrong step could have not only ended the trip, but ended our lives. It's something that we choose to ignore when we go on this back country type adventures, but is always a very real threat. But it's easy to ignore that when you know the legendary California golden trout is on the mountain just above camp.
I hope you enjoyed this wilderness adventure, thanks for watching.
#troutfishing #trout #california #flyfishing #outdoors #adventure
Man. The trout are gold and the rattlers are gold. Truly the golden state!
If we never get a part 3 I am definitely going to blame it on that bear
Which one? LOL the first, second, or third bear?
@@hardmanfishing imma say the first lol. But for real great vid I can’t wait for part 3 and hopefully 4
Hardman.....I have fished the Rockies and the streams and rivers of Montana and your videos bring back meories. There are many fly fishing channels but I dont think any of them are as dynamic as yours and the production and video clarity is unreal. You are doing a fantastic job and you are to be commended for it. Absolutely breath taking video and excellant knowledge sharing. Well done sir.
Thank you so much for the kind words!!! I'm glad you're enjoying the fishing adventures from the last California trip. I put a lot more effort into these videos because it was such a special trip even for Andrew and I... so it's nice to see that it's being recognized.
I brother moved to Kernville in 71, I was a freshman in high school and every year in high-school I would spend the summer there because I loved to fish, and yes I did get to catch some golden Trout up in the high country. Great video, brought back memories.
You guys are truly amazing. What a great team of brothers.
We do our best! Thanks for watching the video
Small stream natives, you either get it, or you don't! What a trip for you guys!!
Small stream natives for the win! Thanks for watching
A most gorgeous scenery (time 5:30). The fact that you may encounter some black bears or rattle snakes adds appeal to that place and to your adventure because it indicates it is truly wild, virtually pristine despite that your lives might be in real danger if not mind those animals.
Anyway, at time 12:36 the red colour of that rainbow…beautiful.
I agree!! I don't hate seeing them all of the wildlife that's for sure. Thanks for watching!
Yes, there is that feeling when you know you're totally alone. On the wrong move ? Nobody's coming to rescue you. When an unfamiliar terrain I take comfort that the river will lead me home.
Thanks, Jon and Andrew. Superb series, even by your high standards, and I look forward to Part 3. The rainbow was absolutely stunning, and the scenery awesome.
Thank you so much!!
I've been planning the exact same trip for the past year and couldn't believe it when I stumbled upon your videos. Very well done and thanks for sharing!
I've backpacked further up the Kern multiple times, and along the Little Kern, but this will be my first time linking the two areas up and checking out the bigger water. I can't wait!
It’s a blast but it’s tough! Good luck and I wish you the best!
The color on the rainbow Andrew landed was incredible. I would not hesitate to say that rainbow trout exhibited the most vibrant color I've seen for the species. The rattler and bears lend a natural beauty to your surroundings, but that close to and even in camp is a little too much beauty. Bad luck on the camera for sure. I'm looking forward to the next show and thanks for the many viewing opportunities.
Yep I agree, that fish was the highlight of the day. Thanks for watching!!
If you ever come back try the saddlebag loop near the eastern entrance to Yosemite. The saddlebag slam is a Brookie, golden, brown and rainbow on the 20 lake loop.
Amazing stuff in every respect. Thank you for taking us on the adventure. It's all just about a 4-hour drive from my house, but there's no universe where I do that trek, so I appreciate riding in your backpack.
I would be equal parts thrilled and extremely nervous to encounter a bear in the wild like that, so that was an extra bonus.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video!! The bears definitely add a little bit of excitement...
There's some tough fish living n feeding in water we couldn't even stand up in, beautiful country and fish ❤
One of the best videos yet. Proud of y'all and glad to get to see y'all catch such beautiful fish. God continue to bless y'all and always tight lines. Love this video.
Thank you so much!!
Love the channel keep up the amazing work
Thank you!!
That gold colored northern pacific rattlesnake was a looker man. They don’t get better colors than that one
Camera failure, yet you’re still kings of the genre. Amazing.
Thank you!!!
wow that was a Big fish that took you into that log .
Definitely wasn’t a baby!
Yes, the colors are different in every area you fish. Bear spray or 44 mag. North Idaho cutts.....my favorite since the 60's. And you heard of the record breaking snowfall last year....runoff!
What amazing fish - simply gorgeous! Many thanks for this series!
Glad you're enjoying it!! The series only gets better!
You guys have such a blessed natural environment right there. Keep posting great videos!
From a subscriber in South Korea.
All of the way from South Korea! That's impressive! Thanks for watching the videos.
Haven't lived in CA since the '80s. But I did a lot of camping and backpacking in Kern & Tulare counties around Lake Isabella & Kings Canyon NP. Was surprised when you revealed you'd be fishing the Kern River for trout. All my memories of it were at least as high and fast as what you encountered. Wouldn't have thought it held trout in many/most areas. Looks like that whole area is still wild country.
I didn't really know what I was getting into honestly. But yeah that entire area is very well protected!! I believe a lot of it is wilderness (aka no vehicles). The tribs are more well known for the fishing then the actual kern river itself, but it definitely has fish. Thanks for watching!!
This is definitely something that needs to be on my bucket list!
Beautiful country! Can’t wait for part 3. Hopefully no more snakes.
Definitely woulda had that rattler for dinner. This place it right in my backyard and I've caught more than a few goldens, just on spinning gear.
Next time you guys come back to Cali, try the South Fork of the American River, the McCloud River and the Upper Sacramento River
Bears in California key on hikers. They know you have food and will follow you then race through and pick up you're backpacks to open and eat at their leisure.
The California series is truly amazing, but isn’t that every video? happy for you guys as well!
Thank you so much!
This was so Amazing you guys are awesome thanks for bringing us along!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed
Enjoyed! 👍 The colors of the native Rainbow are different here. Lots of wildlife, thanks for sharing 😀🐻🐍
Glad you enjoyed!!
amazing video and beautiful fish, couldn't ask for anything more
Nope doesn't get much better!! Thanks for watching
That’s what happen when California no longer lets you hunt bear with dogs. The population has bloomed. Awesome content in our state.
I love watching you guys fish! i just purchased some new flies from redds flies!! woohoo can’t wait till they get here!
Thanks for the support!!
Def gonna need a bear canister if I ever make it out to the deep sierras. Can’t wait for part 3!
100%!! Thanks for watching
Fantastic Jon and Andrew. Great footage, great experience looks like. Not easy, but great!!
No doubt!! Glad you're enjoying the video
Bear country !! 😉
minute 6+: I had the same once, with a fish getting stuck under something. Couldn't get as close to him as you did, but I also lost the (big) fish. You, of course, had no chance with such a short line out when he left his "hiding hole".
Yeah it's a tough situation! Not really much you can do but hope
That sucks with the gopro just happend to me.For some reason it just died for good and i lost all my footage
Amazing video 🔥 keep it up
Thank you!!
Cant wait for the next part of the adventure, thanks guys!
The next part of the adventure is incredible I promise!! Thanks for watching
I fish the GTW every year, waiting ANXIOUSLY for part 3 here…you guys unfortunately went during the highest water year in a very long time or you could have scored the Kern in all its glory. Thanks for the excellent vids here.
Part 3 just came out a few days ago! Go to the channel and check it out. But thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed the video
Those bears must be attracted to you! We have done trips into the Golden Trout Wilderness and the Inyo National Forest almost a dozen times and have only ever came across a bear once. We were chasing the Kern River Rainbow when we came across one. Such an awesome area.
I'm not sure why we say so many... I guess it could just be luck (or maybe not so much luck) to run into them. It was pretty cool to see though.
Fun thing is on the 22 im going to California to see my grandma she has so many plans to camp there
wow AMAZING, trout don't get more pretty Than that!
No it does not!! Thanks for watching!
There's a reason the California State Flag has a bear on it. I encounter more bears backpacking in CA than any other state.
Hey guys can you let us know what gear your fishing with? Like rod, reel, fly line. More importantly weight
We used a 3 wt the entire time! But I’ll maybe do a gear review at the end of the California video series. It’s not a bad idea
Amazing work once again guys keep it up
We'll do our best! Thanks for watching
Do you have an indicator on when your fishing these big rivers?
We were just throwing a dry dropper rig because a lot of the fish were feeding on top. Not saying that was the best way to do it but it worked out decently well.
What rod/reel combo do you use?
Just did that hike august 1-5th stayed at the little lake. I think we were the first ones in there in a year or two. Fire in 2020 and all the water
Honestly could be, there were minimal signs of people back in there. I mean some of the trails didn't even really exist.... and it was more surprising to see a human boot print than it was to see a bear track LOL
I can’t believe you threw that rod/reel into the sand…
BTW, you can get the fire permit online.
Fantastic keep it up!
We'll try our best!
Hey guys nice video I'll tell you Kern River golden trout their best found in really small streams off the river I'm talking really small they're fishing there that might be 6 in I'm telling you a little take your fly and it will go zoom up stream to 4 or 5 other ponds on these little tiny nothing strings they're really incredible for the size of the fish there are. Please use barbless hooks and please be really careful with the Kern River golden trout try to get them back in the water as soon as possible. If there's non-native trout in there please take all of the non-native trout out of the river less competition for the native trout thank you. Some of the best spots the road that goes to the George Bush Sequoia there's a bunch of difference little streams to come from the area that are loaded with golden trout
Maybe next time get a Satellite radio in case you're stuck somewhere. All the people who hike the Pacific Crest trail do that because of the remoteness. Take care.
Hardman, how did you get to kern lake? What trail did you take?
There are incredible places in CA. Too bad some of the people are so nutty. Thanks for the great video.
Glad you enjoyed!
Awesome video mate!
Wow… what an amazing adventure!! Can’t wait to see the next video and some of those native golden trout. Also, it may have been addressed in other prior comments, but are you both carrying bear spray?
Nope! Probably should have, but I've never had any issues with black bears so I'm not too afraid of them... the rattlesnakes?? A slightly different story LOL
just a qq, i watched your vids for quite some time , why you don't eat some of the fish you catch .....just wondering .......
I will make a catch and cook at some point. Just not on this trip
Do you guys carry bear spray at all?
Where did you guys park at to start your journey?
Wow nice😊!😊😅
I love your videos, just a quick question, ive noticed throughout your videos you seem to have a certain distain towards stocked trout over wild fish, is this the case and why? Im geniunely curious on how it might be a problem
I’m not against stocked trout across the board, I just don’t like them in areas where wild reproducing trout already exist. I mean what’s the point? Usually all it does is cause issues with the native / wild trout already in the system. There are plenty of places you can stock non-native trout that will do little to no harm and create fishing opportunities. It’s kind of a tough question to answer lol
Now you know why the official animal of California is a bear! Glad they’re staying away from you and your brother. Very sorry that you happened to visit California after one of the highest snowfall years in our history. I think that’s the reason the Kern is so high and roily even into August. In the five drought years leading up to this year you would have been able to access calmer water and you would have caught many fish like those at minutes 6:00 and 8:00 of the video. I look forward to seeing the Golden Trout of day 3.
I know! We originally planned this trip for the beginning of July and postponed it, and honestly August wasn't much better. But we got to the point where it's like if we don't go we just aren't going this year at all, which also wasn't an option in our minds. Thanks for watching!!
I bet you did see any deer and that’s not a coincidence give all the bears you’re seeing.
Pretty good although you got quite dramatic with the risk to your lives talk. Well done
I got bluff charged close to here a couple years ago
That doesn’t surprise me in the least 😂
Oh good. You didn’t get eaten by a bear. I was a little worried after day 1.
Nope we survived!!
Do you get tons of ticks from these videos?
4:50 I know it's not the rainbow subspecies you were targeting but that almost looks like a redband trout. 🤔
It does, but I think its just a very colorful Kern River Rainbow. We were no where near the redband native range
And they just discovered a pack of wolves in that area.
Wanna pm me a pin of where you saw those bears ?
I love my state but damn the politicians and tax we have in this state is killing us. Especially the gun laws. Our hunting and wildlife is very restrictive compared to other states but you get this beauty of wildlife.
This is why we wear waders......LOL
I wasn't going to pack waders 20 miles into the backcountry LOL you can have fun with that
Same bear ur just pushing him up the valley
Nah the bears were running up the mountain, not up the valley. We'd watch them for a while and then move on. 100% different bears
I have watched many of your videos and yaw are the best !!!! But the RUclips is shooting advertising every few minutes 😳 , very very aggravating , that’s not happened in your previous vids !!!
The ads shouldn't have changed any between videos... I mean at least I haven't done anything to change it LOL In fact I've never changed ad frequency. I wonder why that's happening
Bear meat and Rattlesnake are good eating....
You aren't wrong... but it was California. Not even sure if you can hunt bears there LOL
I fished the San Gabriel river back in the early 80's when I was training on Chapman dolly cranes in Hollywood. My trip was a lot cheaper since it was a company business trip. I bought my fishing license before I booked my hotel.
@@hardmanfishing people hunt bear in California just not in any parks.
Hope you’re packing some heat for protection.
3 bears?!?!?!
Yep, in one valley!
lol east coast bears are not the same as westcoast. beware.
I am sure it’s nothing on your side , the vid ran a couple of minutes and advertising, run a bit and advertising , never seen it in any of your vids , it was more annoying than anything , rather see yours and Andrews adventure than those advertising every couple of minutes , keep up the good work , enjoying very much young man
Someone else commented this recently, I wonder why that is. I've not changed anything or done anything to increase ads to my knowledge. I'll see what I can figure out. Either way thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the video
Jon, with that stache and scruffy beard, you look like the main character from the former HBO show called "Deadwood". 🤣 Have you ever seen it? You'd know what I mean.
you guys picked a bad spot to camp, lucky a tree didn't fall on you
A dead snake is a good snake