Big Kern Lake Trips
The Upper Kern River is a designated Wild and Scenic River holding native and heritage populations of Kern River Rainbows and Volcano Creek Goldens in its upper tributaries. Big Kern Lake (it’s actually a river for the length of the season, but sometimes creates a lake in high water years) is one of the premier fishing locations in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Kern River Rainbow are fairly nonspecific on flies and plentiful. You can expect to catch (and release) several 14-18 inch fish. This part of the river is fishable up or downstream and either side. You can easily fish from shore or wade (waders are suggested early in the season, but by mid-season its more comfortable to wet wade.)
Trip Dates
Custom Trips Available (contact us for details)
general ITINERARY
Day 1 you travel 8 hours by horseback to one of the best fishing camps in the Golden Trout Wilderness, Big Kern Lake.
Day 2-4 you may fish up or downstream, either side of the river and expect to catch 16+ inch Kern River Rainbows.
Day 5 we return on horseback to the packstation.
What’s included
saddle horse and equipment including saddle bags
pack mules
1-2 professional and knowledgeable packers/wranglers
3 hearty meals a day, snacks and desserts
emergency equipment, including first aid kit and satellite device
camp gear including: shower, toilet, tables, camp chairs
fly fishing guide (optional, extra expense)
Packing List
tent
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
brimmed hat
bandana
lightweight gloves
riding/hiking boots
warm layers for early or late season trips
sunglasses
reusable water bottle
rain jacket
fishing gear/hard case for fishing rods
duffle bags
headlamp
binoculars
personal toiletries
wash cloth and small pack towel
guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Gear should not exceed 50 pounds per person and should be packed in 1-2 duffel bags. You may carry a small day pack with you on the horse that should not exceed 15 pounds (for your comfort and the horses).
meals
Meals are very important to GTWP. We use as many fresh vegetables, fruits, breads, and meats as possible. Our backcountry menu has a variety of gourmet and classics; hearty quiches and fruit for breakfast, light deli or chicken salad sandwiches for lunch, stuffed porkchops and sides for dinner, followed by a decadent pineapple upside down cake cooked fireside. That’s just one example of what a day of meals may look like.
Dietary needs?
If you have certain dietary needs including vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free meals and snacks, please feel free to discuss these with us. We can help customize 3 course meals to keep you packed with energy for your wilderness horseback pack trip.
What about the alcohol?
GTWP does not provide alcohol but will happily pack as much in as you would like.
logistics
Where do we meet?
We pack in from the Lewis camp trailhead, luckily, the pack station is located one mile down the road from it. We ask that guests come up the night before their pack trip and lodge with us because we get started early the next morning. We provide lodge meals and accommodations for an extra cost. Alternatively, guests can come up to the pack station the morning of, but we ask guests to be here by 5:30 AM, so we can sort and pack your gear and get you on the trail by 7-8 AM.
Guides, group sizes and age/weight restrictions?
We have a 1:5 ratio, 1 wrangler/guide to five animals. With a maximum of 6 guests (specific to this trip) and 2 guides
Kids must be 6 or older to join a pack trip. Some exceptions available (porter or stock assist) with final approval from GTWP
Guests must not weigh more than 250 pounds and must not have any serious physical or medical health issues prior to trip that could affect safety. Guests weighing more than 250 pounds can be accommodated on a case by case basis and depending on availability of riding mules.
booking
Email us (steve.gtwp@gmail.com), or press the button below and fill out the form to start the conversation.