TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

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1. 

   June 7 fish report

   By The Bakersfield Californian

   Thursday, Jun 06 2013 07:19 PM

   Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley LAKE ISABELLA: Very good for catfish and largemouth bass action and some huge bass are showing. Calvin Walker, Bakersfield, had bass at 17 and 13 pounds this past week on Senkos. Doug McKinney, Bakersfield, land a 7-pounder, while Kristin McKinney, Bakersfield, had a 5-4, both on Brush Hawgs. Top catfish reported was a 12-pounder on a nightcrawler. The catfish are showing on shad, clams, and nightcrawlers and there are a lot of fish to 6 pounds, while the bass are best on crankbaits and Senkos with a lot of quality fish over five pounds reported. The trout bite is also pretty good with some limits reported in deeper water in the vicinity around the auxiliary dam. The bluegill bite is also good to...

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2. 

   Steve Merlo: Take action on gun control legislation

   Remember when you were asked to get out and vote for the right people to run our state government? Remember when you were way too busy trying to make a living in this lousy economy to take a few minutes to get out and vote? Well, guess...
3. 

   June 14 fish report

   Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley STRIPER DERBY: The annual Bob's Bait month-long striper derby kicked off June 1. The entry fee is $1 per angler and you must register before you weigh in a fish. Only fresh fish can be weighed in...

4. Steve Merlo: Isabella largemouth bass bite goes ballistic

   Back in the early 1980s, Isabella Lake began putting out some giant largemouth bass and, when the word got out, anglers from all over the U.S. began visiting the Kern River Valley impoundment in hopes of tangling with some of the lake's...
5. 

   Steve Merlo: 10 pointers for better surf fishing

   With the kids out of school and summer vacations on the horizon, many local people enjoy spending their leisure time along the coast in Ventura, Pismo, Morro Bay, Cayucos and San Simeon, where these beach towns draw the lion's share of...
6. 

   May 31 fish report

   Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley LAKE ISABELLA: When the wind has allowed anglers on the lake, fishing has been good for catfish, largemouth bass. The crappie bite is fair to good but the fish have backed off into deeper water....
7. 

   May 24 fish report

   Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley LAKE ISABELLA: Overall excellent fishing. The bass bite is very good, catfish are excellent, and the crappie bite is still going strong. The catfish, bluegill bites are strong as well. Check out...

9. Steve Merlo: Memorial Day a special time of remembrance

   A special trophy hangs from a wall in my house. Unlike my other hunting or fishing trophies, so strong are the emotions associated with this particular piece of life's memorabilia, I would gladly give all my worldly possessions if the trips...

10. Steve Merlo: With all the chirping, how can anyone sleep?

    Since March, male birds, decked out in their finest colors, have been singing, chirping or cooing while trying to seduce prospective females into selecting their perfect mate. Now, in late spring, the rituals, nest building and egg laying...
11. 

    May 17 fish report

    Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley LAKE ISABELLA: The crappie bite remains good, but the bite is a little tougher with fewer limits, but a lot of nice fish from 1-8 to 2-8 showing for both shore, float tube and boat anglers in...

12. Steve Merlo: Rockfish season opens on the Central Coast

    I wrangled an ocean-fishing invitation from some friends last week, going out of Morro Bay on their private boat to do battle with some rockfish. The season had officially opened a few days before and we were eager to find some filets for...
13. 

    May 10 fish report

    Kern County, So. San Joaquin Valley LAKE ISABELLA: The crappie bite remains wide open here again this week. Limits of fish from 1-8 to 2-8 showing for both shore, float tube and boat anglers in Boulder Gulch, Paradise Cove, Rocky Point...

14. Steve Merlo: Ridgecrest angler snags $10K trout at Isabella

    After the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce decided to extend the time limit for catching 10 big-money trout swimming in Isabella Lake (holdovers from the recent derby), hundreds of already-registered derby participants continued their...