TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Recent Stories

1. Steve Merlo: How to boost your odds at Isabella Trout Derby

   By Steve Merlo

   Thursday, Mar 22 2012 05:27 PM

   With more than $250,000 on the line, the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the 23rd annual Isabella Lake Fishing derby March 31-April 2. Sponsored by Berkley and Shakespeare Products, plus a host of Kern River valley businesses, the popular event should draw thousands of people to fish for a thousand tagged trout worth from $50 to $40,000 each.

   Registration remains easy for prospective anglers in that they can sign up in person before 7 a.m. March 31 at the Derby headquarters located at the Moose Lodge in Lake Isabella or at isabellafishingderby.com. Costs are minimal -- a single angler can enter for only $20 and an entire family for just $45. For more information, call (866) 578-4386 or (760) 379-5236.

   As usual, plenty of stocked trout will be swimming in the lake waiting to be caught, but the big draw at the event, billed as the World's Largest Trout derby, are the large number of marked fish worth some big bucks. Ten tagged rainbows worth $10,000 each, 889 others worth from $50-$1,000 each and one real prize worth a cool $20,000 will highlight the event. The $20,000 fish could possibly be worth $40,000 if the person catching it happens to be wearing the 2012 derby apparel (on sale at the headquarters) at the time of the catch.

   How do I catch derby trout?

   Catching tagged trout, while not rocket science, can prove frustrating for first timers. The way to an easy limit runs not through blind luck, but the complete elimination of bad luck -- in other words, killing off Mr. Murphy and his laws before his diminishing returns get to you. Stack the odds in your favor, not his.

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2. Steve Merlo: Winter storm could bash fish counts at local lakes

   This weekend's rapidly approaching storm will be sure to send water temperatures plummeting, and with the drop, anglers will see a just budding bite on bass and crappie hit the skids as well.

3. Steve Merlo: Local hunter's video to air on Outdoor Channel

   Last fall, Bakersfield's Kurt Tobi won the Eastman's Hunting Magazine sweepstakes and a wonderful array of prizes associated with the honor. Also included in the prizes was an all-expense-paid elk hunting trip, complete with all the necessary gear. During the five-day hunt, Kurt managed to kill a very exceptional bull, and on March 20 and again on March 27, his hunt will be featured on Eastman's Hunting TV, broadcast on Outdoor Channel. Viewers might want to record the show--it'll be worth watching.

4. Steve Merlo: Like last year, spring bite shaping up to be a winner

   Ah, Spring. Although the official date looms only three weeks away, the heady aromas of almond, citrus and other blossoms waft like disinfectant sterilizing the earth once again for renewed birth. While the smell and stench of napalm may remind Robert Duvall of victory, the heady and pleasing scent of floral orchards reminds me of other less bloody and not so critical battles, those with fish against a bowed rod.
5. 

   Steve Merlo: Pictures lend credibility to claims of mountain lion sightings

   Are there really mountain lions living in or near Bakersfield? For years many people on the bike path (running from east Bakersfield thru town and ending out on Enos Lane) have reported seeing an occasional one of the tawny beasts while hiking or cycling along the old Kern River Flood Channel. Most sightings were pooh-poohed by experts as being those of bobcats or domestic animals, but mountain lions? Come on now.

6. Plenty of fish to catch at Isabella, Truxtun, River Walk

   In anticipation of the 16th Annual Kern River Valley Trout Derby to be held March 31-April 2, large plants of decent-sized fish are being stocked weekly into Lake Isabella. With more than $250,000 in prizes available, the event should draw thousands of people determined to catch one or more of the $10,000 and $20,000 tagged fish that will be swimming in the lake when the derby officially starts.

7. Steve Merlo: Impressive variety of birds can be viewed here in Kern County

   Home to a huge variety of feathered beauty, Kern County's fields, marshes, parks and other habitat hold hundreds of different species of birds. These avian friends can be seen by not only the professional birdwatcher, but the casual observer as well. All one needs to get started are a set of binoculars, pad and pen and a relatively new birding book. Even if it means viewing them from your own back yard, it's still fun!

9. Steve Merlo: Drive to Buttonwillow brings back memories

   Driving out to Buttonwillow the other day to visit some relatives, I decided to take a look at some of my old hometown haunts. Fifty years ago, the small agricultural community only had 1,600 or 1,700 residents (or so the sign said) and not all that many businesses. I think we had only a handful of streets --Main, 1st through 4th, Milo, Buttonwillow Drive, Dunford and a couple others whose names escape me.

10. Steve Merlo: NRA dinner, auction set for Feb. 3

    Once again, it's time for all gun aficionados to pay the fiddler for all the tireless work the National Rifle Association does during the year for our country's gun owners. 

11. Steve Merlo: Some technical tips for weekend trout derby

    Despite the rain expected to wet the San Joaquin Valley this weekend, the 3rd Annual Buena Vista Trout Derby will still be the best local spot to catch a limit of lunker trout Saturday and Sunday. Planted with nearly two tons of fighting rainbow trout, plus the holdover fish from other recent plants, the event promises outstanding fishing for all entrants.
12. 

    Steve Merlo: Practice at range makes for perfect first-time pig hunt

    Watching a small herd of wild pigs materialize from a thicket 80 yards away, 13-year-old Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield nervously placed the sights of his .280 Remington on the nearest animal. Using a fencepost for a rest, he patiently waited for the hog to turn broadside, and when it did, steadied the crosshairs on the animal's shoulder and slowly pressed the trigger.

13. Steve Merlo: Like it not, 'A-Rig' is effective fishing lure

    When well-known pro-bass tournament fisherman Paul Elias weighed in over 100 pounds of largemouth for his four-day total of 20 fish in a recent tourney, the bass fishing world went nuts over the "new" lure he used to weigh in his almost unheard of 5-pound average.

14. Steve Merlo: Coyote population is out of control

    Each time I wander down to the L.A. area, I'm astounded by the number of wild coyotes living in extremely close proximity to housing developments. After some casual on-line research, I found that the animals not only live among humans, but are largely responsible for the disappearance of thousands of dogs and cats.