River Walk Lakes Fish Report for 12-5-2025
Both lightning and rainbow trout are still being caught from the fishing derby
River Walk Lakes - Kern County, CA (Kern County)

by Chad Burton and Chris Borden
12-5-2025
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CDFW has a trout plant scheduled here for next week. Both lightning and rainbow trout are still being caught from the fishing derby held over a week ago. Anglers are picking up trout on Powerbait, Mice Tails, spinners and jigs. Bass action has been steady on crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs and shad-style plastics fished on a dropshot. Bluegill are showing in both lakes on wax worms and red worms. The next trout derby is set for February 7, 2026, hosted by Bakersfield Kids Outdoors. Both the main lake and amphitheater lake will be stocked with tagged trout worth up to $1,000, along with trophy lightning and rainbow trout. Tickets and additional information are available at Copes Tackle and Rod.
Contact Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or check us out online at Tackle and Rod.com
Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop has the largest selection of fishing tackle in the Central Valley. We carry all the equipment from top manufactures to make your fishing trip more successful! Whether your fishing for Bluegill at a local pond or Bluefin Tuna far offshore we are your one stop shop for all your fishing needs.
Our mantra here at Cope’s is “for fishermen, by fishermen.” All our staff truly enjoy the sport and spend a lot of time helping make sure you are enjoying your time on the water. We can guarantee satisfaction when you enter our store - from tips and tricks to providing you with all the gear you will need to keep you on the water and in the game!
It is not only our goal to provide you with the right gear, we also strive to keep you informed of local events, trips, shows, and fishing opportunities.
Our price match guarantee assures each angler the opportunity to get out on the water with the best gear at the lowest price possible. We make it a point to regularly run deals and sales!
Make sure to follow us and Facebook and Instagram to stay informed!
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More Reports
Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop Reports
for Friday, December 5th
California Aqueduct: Fishing was fair to good in the aqueduct depending on the angler
Castaic Lake: Castaic Lake held near 76 percent of capacity, and fishing was decent
Pyramid Lake, CA: The lake dropped to 89 percent of storage capacity, and water temperatures were in the low sixties
Lake Isabella: The winter bass bite has been strong
Kern River: On the Upper Kern, flows have dropped back down and CDFW has stocked trout throughout the 20-mile stretch
Lake Kaweah: Anglers reported long days with decent numbers of mostly smaller bass
Lake Success: Success Lake rose slightly to 20 percent of its storage capacity
Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop Reports
for Friday, November 28th
California Aqueduct: Striper reports stayed about the same, with steady catches coming in
Castaic Lake: Lake levels shifted between 79 and 76 percent of capacity, and anglers reported a wide range of results
Pyramid Lake, CA: Dry weather kept conditions stable last week, and the bite stayed essentially the same
Lake Isabella: With last week’s heavy storms, Lake Isabella has inched up to 33 percent of capacity
Kern River: Recent rain has fluctuated the river flow but has since leveled
Lake Kaweah: The lake held at 14 percent of capacity last week, and fishing was fair overall with bass offering the best action
Lake Success: The lake rose to 19 percent of capacity last week, and the winter pattern settled in
River Walk Lakes: The Bakersfield Firefighters Trout Derby took place last Saturday, and the trout bite was outstanding
Ming Lake: Bass at Lake Ming are very active right now, chasing shad and other baitfish throughout the lake
Buena Vista Lakes: Fishing was fair at BV last week, but the remaining trout provided action for patient anglers
Hart Park Lake: Fishing remained fair at Hart Park last week
Truxtun Lake: Anglers reported good fishing for smaller bass at Truxtun Lakes last week
Lake Nacimiento: The water level dropped a couple of feet to 35 percent of capacity
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