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1. 

   Jan. 27 fish report

   By The Bakersfield Californian

   Thursday, Jan 26 2012 05:17 PM

   Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

   LAKE ISABELLA: Winter catfish bite starting to perk with a pretty fair bite at Engineer's Point on frozen shad. Not a lot of big fish, but pretty numbers on fish around 2 or 3 pounds. Trout bite slow to fair at the auxiliary dam for bait anglers fishing floating baits, Power Mice or inflated nightcrawlers. A DFG plant is slated for this week. Fly anglers are also reporting a fair mid-day dry fly bite on midges. Few reports on crappie, and the bass and bluegill action is also slow.

   KERN RIVER: Trout action is slow to fair on the upper river with only a few fish showing in the cold water on salmon eggs, crickets, and nightcrawlers. Fly anglers are also seeing slow to fair action in the stretch just above Kernville with mid-day midge and baetis hatches and some dry fly and nymph action. In the lower river flows are down under 400 cfs and the region is very fishable, but the trout bite is slow on salmon eggs and nightcrawlers. Also slow action on the smallmouth bass.

   AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striped bass bite continues to be fair to good on blood worms and sand worms. Lots of 4- to 6-pound fish, but the weather has made the bite tougher this past week. Very few lure fish in recent days. Few catfish reports.

   MILL CREEK PARK: Catfish bite slow on cut baits and green garlic nightcrawlers. Most of the cats are 1-3 pounds. Few bass and bluegill showing.

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2. 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. 

3. 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.
4. 

   Feb. 17 fish report, and outdoors photos of the week

   Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

5. JC roundup: BC tops COS, falls to Sierra in softball

   Sarah Smith hit a two-run homer to lead an 11-hit attack as the Bakersfield College softball tean defeated College of the Sequoias 14-6 in the first game of a doubleheader split at BC.

6. 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!

7. Feb. 10 fish report

   Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

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. Fish report

    Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley
11. 

    Jan. 20 fish report / outdoors photos of the week

    Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

12. 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.
13. 

    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.
14. 

    Jan. 13 fish report

    Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley