According to Ken Walton of Bob's Bait Bucket in Bakersfield, anglers headed to the Kern need two things: Salmon eggs and crickets.

Natural baits rule and help anglers nab easy limits from Kernville to the Johnsondale Bridge, he said.

Lake Isabella could fish very well this year. If it stays low, expect to find trout concentrated near the dams. Troll with Cripplures and Thomas Buoyants to bag a limit. Another method is to simply float a night crawler off one of the adjacent points.

EASTERN SIERRA
Eastern Sierra's trout season opens April 26. It's primed for another excellent season. Water levels are never an issue here, and trout plants come almost weekly.

Gary Olson of Bishop Creek Lodge said 2007 was one of the best trout seasons on record in the South Fork of Bishop Creek. Olson said 2008 should provide the same to anglers fishing from the lodge to Weir Pond with Orange Deluxe and Gold Label salmon eggs, crickets and Woolly Buggers. South Lake never filled last year, but May and June will provide limit-style action for anglers working the inlets at the back of the lake.

Anglers tossing red and gold Thomas Buoyants, small mini-jigs and worms -- all vying to catch half- to 1-pound bows -- will dominate at North Lake, Intake II and Lake Sabrina.

Let's pushing north. Jim Reid and Rick Gieser of Ken's Sporting Goods in Bridgeport agreed that fresh plants of trout in the West Walker River, Robinson, Buckeye and Green Creek pave the way for quality trout fishing for day-users and campers who work salmon eggs in small pockets and pools.

Even when low water hits, the drainages will fish well in spring and summer. As for the lakes, Upper and Lower Twin and Bridgeport Reservoir are benefiting from private stocking programs that have been raising brown trout in recent years.

Even as fishing pressure increases, anglers have seen catches of browns hold steady.

Plan to fish the lakes in May while temperatures are still cold and browns could still be close to the surface. Your best bet is dragging large Rebel Minnows, Bomber Long As, Castaic Soft Trout swimbaits and J-Plugs along dropoffs.

WESTERN SIERRA
This spring, the Western Sierra is a question mark. After a dismal winter and spring in 2006 and 2007, many of the lakes and reservoirs are approaching drought conditions.

Lake Success and Kaweah had been down to 3 percent of full pool. Pine Flat wasn't much higher, and the prognosis for a speedy recovery is grim. The same can be said for Edison Lake, Wishon, Courtright, Huntington, Shaver and Florence.