Angling Information
Golden Trout Creek
South Fork Kern River
Golden Trout Creek is a designated Heritage and Wild Trout Water.
The South Fork Kern River is a designated Wild Trout Water.
All waters on the Kern Plateau are open to angling, although many are accessible only by trail since both watersheds are largely encompassed within the Golden Trout Wilderness.
Some areas of the South Fork Kern River are adjacent to forest roads, particularly in the lower portion of the watershed near Kennedy, Troy and Monache meadows. These populations are more likely to contain hybridized fish that may not exhibit the bright coloration of fish in the upper watershed.
Most of the creeks within Golden Trout Wilderness abound with California golden trout and they are known to readily take flies of all types, particularly dries and terrestrials.
Small lures may also be effective but casting in the smaller tributaries, often lined with riparian or meadow vegetation, can be difficult.