A true local store that has everything you need for a great day on the river. The shop manager was welcoming and gave us a few tips. The had plenty of options at good prices and had an assortment of clinics to try. Now, if you are looking to get into the places the local fish then you'll need a guide. Look no further than Rob Buhler! My son wanted to learn to fly fish for his birthday and I hadn't picked up a rod for 20 years. Rob gave us a fantastic, practical four hour lesson on the river. He took his time teaching fundamentals and made every cast fun. Rob was incredibly knowledgeable about the river, fish, fauna, and the geological history of the area. In addition, he was huge on safety and environmental protection which was a massive positive. Don't think twice about asking for Rob the next time you're in the Kernville area and need a pro. He was so committed to the craft and gave off the vibe of the cool uncle everyone wants to have around. A real gift to the area and we're so glad the shop has folks like him on staff. read more

Kern River Fly Shop - Fish trout ever on a fly rod. Thanks Rob! - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

Guy's 2-Day Nymphing Clinic. December 2025 I went to the Kern River to spend the weekend fly fishing. My first stop was to the Kern River Fly Shop to get some advice about flies and pick up a few that were working at that time and for the area I intended to fish. While in the shop I opted to sign up for the mailing list to help get reacquainted with the sport. Twenty plus years ago I considered myself a fair fly fisher. Over the years I spent less and less time on the water so when I visited last December, unsurprisingly, I was seriously out of practice. I spent time practicing my cast but needed help in an area I have always struggled with, nymph fishing. The shop sends out emails about various clinics so I signed up for the two day clinic and it was worth it. Guy started by going over the basics including key knots to set up our nymph leaders then building them for ourselves and before lunch we were out testing them out. After lunch more knowledge shared and more fishing. The class was small, five of us, and I felt he spent time with each us zeroing in on what each of us needed both in the water and out. We all walked away with a booklet he provided with key info including the knots, leaders, entomology of the area, and more. We also were provided the leaders and some other goodies and most importantly for me, a MUCH better understanding of nymph casting techniques, the skills to identify the right fly and an added bonus some great placed to fish on the Kern. Last but surely not least, Guy is really personable. He is easy to get along with, has a great sense of humor and most importantly adept at communicating what he knows. I walked away with a full tool kit of skills and am now considering his surf clinic. I live not far from the beach and had never considered saltwater fly fishing, but I am now. A final goodie I got to share with family and friends, a video he posted (with my expressed permission): https://youtube.com/shorts/4Xxio-4EoD0?si=65rLSPFaFBBP1jX6 read more

I had a great experience last weekend at the Kern River Fly Shop and Guy's Fly Fishing School. The subject of the two day clinic was nymphing, but Guy managed to cover a whole lot more with sessions on basic knots, casting, stream entomology, strategies, and lots of tips and tricks. We fished some spots on the Kern that I will definitely revisit on my next trip. What I appreciated most was the personal attention I received and the know how I picked up. Thanks again for your help Guy! read more

Rob was the BEST!! Very knowledgeable and patient!! We caught fish!!!! Quality equipment read more

Came back to the shop to gear up for a fishing weekend. Dan was very helpful. He set me up. I rented waders and boots. Purchased some flies and a hat. I caught a 10"+ rainbow at Kern River Retreat campground on a stone fly. Great weekend. Thank you Dan. read more

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I would like to start off saying that Guy Jeans is one of the best Guiding and Casting instructors around. The Kern River is a very challenging river but both him and his staff will teach you the proper techniques you need to know, along with proper knowledge and insight to fish the Kern River. I found it very challenging to fish the Kern but the Fly Fishing School gave me the proper knowledge and techniques needed to do so. I highly recommend taking the Fly Fishing School Classes or hiring the Guides for a trip. Overall I give them a 5 Star Rating!!! Regards, Jim read more

Just finished a 2-day fly fishing class on euro-nymphing. What a wonderful experience. Guy Jeans is knowledgeable, personable, and able to explain techniques and skills in a comprehensible manner. He gives a good amount of time to practice the skills and then supports each student as we applied the lessons on the river. His booklet is an excellent resource to reinforce the learning after the class is over. I highly recommend spending time here. read more

We had such a great time taking the beginner's fly fishing clinic at Kern River Fly Shop! Dan was so great and helped us pick out some flies the day before our class. Next day, we were treated to a great clinic with Ryan and Dan. Ryan taught us how to tie flies, how to read a river, what kind of flies you need for different situations, and a quick casting lesson and explanation on how to mend the line. Next, we went out to the basketball court and Dan showed us how to do several different casts including rolling cast, regular cast and false cast. It was definitely easier doing the practice because when we went to the river (on our own after the class) it went great for a while, but we kept getting caught in the trees behind us. We need some more practice, haha! Anyway, thanks again to KRFS for a great experience. Can't wait to go out on a float! BTW, for $100 this is a great value. We had a young guy in our class who had been trying to teach himself through YouTube and he finally said "I need a real lesson!" He was also really happy with our class. read more

Loved our beginner experience. Rob was awesome. He taught us so much and was motivated to help us catch. I'd recommend it a 100 times over and would love to do it again. Definitely worth every penny. They make it easy and fun. It was my first time ever fishing and I caught one read more

Kern River Fly Shop - My catch - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

We rolled into town, first stop Kern River Fly Shop. If you have been fishing a ton or never, I still recommend this course of action: Pick up some local flies, a wee bit of sun protection, some advice , and book a day with Rob (or the guide of your choice). This is by no means our first rodeo, and still learn something each time. One of our group members is a guide from another state, and he said it was the best Fishin anywhere - bar none. The guides are personable, the rates are reasonable for what you get, and they are wicked smart. If you are a beginner, they have monthly beginner clinics. They will get you started to get on your way and fishing. And they have a bunch of supply, advice and trips for the experienced angler. The customer service is at the top of their game! Book here, support local fishing and have a great time and wonderful fish stories to share. read more

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Just wanted to thank Guy and the staff at The Kern River Fly Shop for shipping out my purchase of new flies. I got them fast. All the flies look great. I would recommend the shop to my family and friends. Thanks again, Todd and Suzanne Bell Ventura County "Never Stop Casting" read more

My husband booked a guided trip for us hoping I would like it enough to fish with, and I ended up hooked! I have since booked several guide trips with Kern river fly shop and they are always amazing experiences. From fishing the upper Kern with Rob to learning to fish the surf with Guy, I have learned so much in a short period of time. It's a lot of knowledge to take in but Rob is always very patient and excited about sharing everything he knows every time we are out on the water. Hes just as excited as I am when I hook a fish and learn something new. I always feel safe getting down to the fishing spots and in the water. I'm thankful he's taught me to be confident/sage on the water when I'm fishing on my own. I more recently booked a surf clinic and guided day with Guy. I was surprised how much I learned in such a short time at the clinic. At the guided trip, He helped me catch onto it so quick. It was awesome to feel confident and catch a few fish the first time being out. Guy was patient and explained everything to me so I understood it easily. I even went out on my own a couple days after and was able to catch quite a few on my own just after those two classes. I love how all the guides genuinely love what they are doing! read more

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What an amazing experience! I booked a guided tour for my son and I for fly fishing. Ryan was our guide and boy you will not be disappointed. Ryan is a natural teacher. He spent hours teaching us, guiding us, helping us, and basically giving us the time of our lives. Both my son and I left with a love of fly fishing. The love, which was evident in Ryan. The guy loves to fly fish and is an excellent teacher. I highly recommend this place to anyone who really wants to learn. read more

We had the best time today! Our guide, Ryan, was so patient and kind. I'm a beginner and he answered all my questions, spent a lot of time showing me different techniques, educated me about the sport and was just an overall nice person! If you'd like a fun day, to learn something new, or just know where to go to see some awesome scenery, Ryan is the guide for you! read more

Kern River Fly Shop - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

Had a fantastic full day of fly fishing with Rob. Would highly recommend! He taught us the fundamentals in addition to the science behind them so we could understand why to use certain techniques and equipment. He took us to the best spots in the area. He also took the time and effort to make sure we were comfortable during lunch and while changing in and out of the fishing gear. We specially appreciated that followed up with us after the lesson to answer any questions we had during the day, and to provide extra information about gear and future fishing trips. read more

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We had a great time fishing with Ryan. He was very knowledgeable about the area and the fish we were targeting. He was also very patient with my son (10 yr old) and made the whole trip very, very memorable. My son simply would not stop raving about our fishing experience with Ryan. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a great fishing experience, especially with a little one. read more

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Everyone is so helpful. The shop is great. I look forward to coming in every time. They have a great selection and if they don't have it in stock, they are more than helpful. The workers are very valuable and I am grateful for the guides as well as the shop. read more

Kern River Fly Shop - Hat - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

If you get a guided tour, ask for Ryan Buhler. The guy is absolutely amazing. Experiencing his energy and passion alone is worth the cost. Such a wealth of knowledge about the area, fly fishing, the habitat, and California in general. It was my dad's first time fly fishing and Ryan had him backhand roll casting within 15 minutes. I was blown away. After our half day session, he told us all about the area, where to go, what to look for, how to survey spots. It was like having a private guide for our week long trip. At first we were wondering if the price was worth it, and afterwards we thought it was cheap for the experience and advice! And Guy is a great resource too. Before getting the guide, I called Guy on the phone about flies we should use in the backcountry. He didn't try to sell me on anything fancy, told me I only needed maybe 6 flies in total. I was hooking into Golden's left and right up there. Stopped counting after landing about 15 in the first hour. Anyway, long story short, this shop and the people there are a gem. Thank you for your help and guidance! read more

Kern River Fly Shop - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

I had a chance to get up to the Kern River this week. I decided to book a guide since I had only been up one other time. Rob met me at the Fly Shop and he took me to the Upper Kern. He spent time showing me the water patterns and the specific flies and why we use one vs the other. I wasn't surprised how quickly I hit my first fish...But actually hooking was harder than I expected. I have fished with a Rod and Reel for a lot of years but Fly Fishing is a little more finessing. But Rob's patience and experience had me casting and catching up and down the river. If you are new to the area or want to learn Fly Fishing, Definitely go to the Kern River Fly Shop. read more

Kern River Fly Shop - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

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I recently fished with Kern River Fly Shop guide, Ryan Buhler (aka The Beard) Besides having incredible knowledge of the river, Ryan is probably the most conscientious guide I've had the pleasure of conversing and fishing with. I've been fly casting for years and been on numerous rivers throughout the west so I figured the Kern would be an easy one for me. Yeah, right... after a couple of DIY outings, always coming up empty netted, I figured some local help was definitely needed. To be honest, the empty net was a result of my never connecting with a fish... I contacted the Kern River Fly Shop, met Ryan early on a mid-week morning, swapped stories for a few minutes, and headed up the 20 mile section for an introduction to local bug life, access to secluded runs, and a great time casting for native bows with a surprise take by a nice brown on a surface pattern... Whether you are a novice or seasoned fly caster, Ryan will provide pleasant instruction, fine tune your technique, and educate you on how to work this tricky river. I recommend "The Beard" to anyone wanting an enjoyable experience on the Kern and look forward to fishing with this guy again! read more

I started fishing the Kern watershed in 1986. We used to have a fly shop in Bakersfield (The Fishin Hole), but it closed probably 25 years ago. After that, it was online or a two hour drive for any supplies. Guy opening his shop in Kernville 20 something years ago was a Godsend. Guy, Dan, the Buhler brothers, are all such good humans. On top of that, they know their fishing. You will not feel like an outsider walking into Kern River Fly Shop. There are no stupid questions. They have all the gear you could possibly need or want and are very competitive on price. After you have visited the shop in the morning, fished til you are tired, you can grab a great meal and a beer at Kern River Brewing Company. I currently have fishing licenses in 6 states. I see a lot of fly shops and meet the staff..... Guy also has a school of flyfishing and they provide a great guide service. Trust me you cant go wrong with Kern River Fly Shop. Tight Lines! Thank you Guy and team for being awesome! Nick Park read more

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I have been fishing the Kern for years with very limited success. This trip I decided to have a guide show me the river, and I was glad I did. Called the shop and Dan scheduled me for a half day with Rob. They were very flexible on scheduling which was perfect. I met Rob at the shop and we headed out. I can only say that it was the best day ever on the Kern! Rob is an awesome guide and great coach. He knows the river extremely well and uses many of his own patterns. We caught some amazing rainbows and lost some really big fish (my bad not his). In addition, Rob helped me fix a couple of basic skills with my casting and mending. The entire experience was fantastic! read more

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A friend and I had the chance to take the surf fly fishing class with Guy Jeans. We are long time trout fly fishermen and we decided try surf fly fishing. We both had a very good time while learning a lot from the class. We should have done this years ago. After the class, we talked to Guy about other fly fishing classes they offer and we are pretty sure we will sign up for the carp on a fly class. Thanks Kern River Fly Shop. read more

I hate doing this, because I've had a good experience in the past on a guided tour but watching the way these people treat a return customer. Sad, I'm actually really sad writing this. I came up here on my birthday a year ago and had a great experience on a guided trip, it wasn't cheap but it was with every penny. Caught a great amount of trout. I packed up my fishing gear and headed up to the Kern to get away for a few days and fish. My trout rod I noticed had a crack in it. It was broken after a few casts. So I came to Guy's to see if they had a replacement piece or something. I ended up buying a new whole rod set up. Some made in China piece of crap that they said "was the best deal. " Last night I rigged it, went to the fishing hole this morning and Guess what. After 3 casts crack!!! Thought I hit a bird or something. My rod fell apart. I took it back The lady who works here looked at it and said "wow it looks hollow, it must have just exploded. I asked for an exchange. They have plenty of the same rods in stock. They said send it back and get an exchange. I just wanted to fish. All I wanted to do was exchange the rod so I could get back to fishing. Nope, "they don't do that anymore." That's how y'all do business? I just came in here and spend $245 on a rod that lasted 3 casts. I've spent lots of money in this place. Well god bless y'all. That's how you do business? read more

It pains me to do so and I do not take any pleasure in writing such a bad review on any business, especially in these harsh times. This review is in regards to my purchasing fishing instruction from Guy Jeans from off of the website and extreme lack of communication on his and his stores part (not on his personality nor fishing skills, because I would not know). As I stated above, I was interested in learning to fly fish, so I went on the Kern River Fly shop's website and purchased 2 instructional fly fishing class packages (beginner Fly fishing clinic No.1 and No.2). Approx two weeks prior to the first clinic I was notified that I would have to have hand surgery two days prior to the fishing clinic No1. Knowing that it would be impossible to fish with one hand and observing that he would be offering the same class next week on a Saturday (and I already had the No.2 class scheduled for the Sunday) I figured I would ask if he would mind if I could switch class days. Having left both emails and voice messages, I unfortunately did not hear back from him, nor the shop. As I could not go to the First clinic I signed up for, I drove up to Kernville the next Friday night hoping to speak with "Guy" in person. Of course he was not there, so I explained my situation to the employee who was. He stated that he would have "Guy" call me back as soon as he stepped back into the store (Of course, I did not get a callback). Being that I did not get any returned calls, texts or emails from him, I decided that I did not want to go to any further instructional classes that I had already purchased from him. I would also like to note that I did not even attempt to ask for any refund. In closing, I would hope that this does not happen to anyone else. read more

Super organized team. We were a group of 6 and got Rob and Danny as our guides. All you need to do is show up and they have everything you need. For first timers, you will need to get a fishing license from the market around the corner and they take care of everything else. They provide all the gear, lunch, drinks, chairs, etc. Both gentleman are patient, courteous and knowledgeable. Every single one of us caught multiple fish and 5 of the 6 were rookies. I would highly recommend them and sincerely appreciate them. read more

Friendly knowledgeable staff. The guide trips are a must. You will not be disappointed

Rob Buhler is a Kern river fishing savant. We showed up at Kern River Fly shop with exactly zero fly fishing experience and limited expectations for actually catching any fish. Clearly we underestimated Rob's fishing prowess. After a brief tutorial - just enough to do a simple cast - Rob had us out on the river catching beautiful trout. Then over the next 2.5 days with him, he did a great job layering in new techniques and fundamentals while constantly moving us around to new runs to keep the action coming. It was a wonderful experience. read more

Amazing!! Me and my friend headed out to Kernville from LA to take the Beginners Fly Fishing guided trip, and it was everything we could've asked for and more. Rob really took care of both me and my buddy in everything from the science of the fish and river, the type of flies to use, casting technique, and everything in-between. He was so patient and thoughtful, answered all of our questions, brought us to some beautiful and uncrowded spots, and really just made this the best experience ever. We are so hyped on fly-fishing now, and we can most definitely attest this to the experience we had with Rob. Definitely will come back soon for another trip! 15/10 experience. read more

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As an absolute amateur at fly fishing, I called to figure out if I could put together a day with a specific goal, being totally honest about my very low skill level. I was assured they could get me what I wanted, and I ended up going with Ryan to target the golden trout. Ryan's patience, skill, energy and knowledge were all on full display as I got dozens of rises to my fly, and landed somewhere in the 15 - 20 range. Utterly spectacular day, and while the fish are the stars of the show, this type of expert guide service is what made it a dream day that I'll never forget. read more

Super cool fly shop in Kernville. We had heard good things about fly fishing in the area, so we stopped in to grab some flies. The woman who helped us out was friendly and knowledgeable. The shop was low on flies (some containers were empty), but she recommended a few that were hitting and suggested a few spots along the river. This shop will be a must whenever we're in town. read more

Had the chance to Fly Fish the upper Kern River in October, was really looking forward to stopping by the Kern River Fly Shop. What an amazing team up there. Guy, the owner and guide, was so helpful with the hatch info, recommended some bigger terrestrials with a nymph dropper that worked like a charm. Guy's Wife Kimberly was also a wealth of know how and info for the wild trout section. Also hooked me up with an awesome Kern River Fly Shop sticker for my car. Huge selection of quality Flies, rods, Reels and extras. I'm hoping to take a guided trip or a surf cast class. ( I live much closer to the Ocean than most good rivers). Bottom line: a great professional Fly Shop with very Knowledgeable staff to keep your line tight and fish in the net. read more

Kern River Fly Shop - A sweet Sticker they gave me that I'm stoked to rock on the back window. - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

I have used Kern River Fly shop for 2 guided Fly Fishing tours and they have been terrific. Rob Buhler was our guide both times and Rob is stellar. He was great with my two boys ensuring they were set up for a great time and caught a bunch of fish. The overall experience for each trip has been great and we will continue to use them. The folks in the shop were also great helping my son figure out what equipment to use and giving him son great advice. read more

I hired Guy twice to guideI. The first time he took my 10 yr old son and I out on the Kern. This was my son's first big fly fishing experience. Guy was amazing. We caught a lot of trout and both my son and I had a fantastic time. The second time, Guy took me out near Ventura to fly fish the surf. I had never fly fished big water before. Guy quickly taught me casting techniques for the surf, the equipment used and we were off. The experience taught me how to read the surf for spots where fish reside as well as how to stalk corbina. It was an amazing day. I caught my first corbina as well as surf perch. I highly recommend Guy's guide services. I look forward to future trips. I will continue to be a repeat customer. read more

We introduced our grandson to fly fishing with Guy in a half day beginner class, mid-June. What a great memorable experience. Guy is a wonderful teacher...for youth and adults! read more

Kern River Fly Shop - Great introduction to fly fishing with Guy for our grandson...mid-June. - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

My buddy Chris and I booked a full day Fly Fishing guide this past weekend. It was my first time ever fly fishing and Chris was a bit of a novice as well. I literally can't say enough good things about the experience and particularly our guide Rob. The patience, knowledge, and positivity he brought to the day not only had me super fired up but stoked to continue hitting rivers and expanding my knowledge of fly fishing in the future. If you are new to the sport or just want some real deep knowledge of the Kern in particular hit these guys up you won't be disappointed. Also Rob you are the man and we will see you again when we book the next one! read more

Went out with Rob Buhler yesterday for a half-day guided trip on the Kern. Still stunned by what I learned and experienced in those 4 hours. Rob is an expert fisherman with wisdom that will leave your head spinning. More importantly, he is a masterful guide/teacher, so thoughtful and quick to identify your experience level, to build upon that and give you lifelong meaningful takeaways. On this trip, I was simply looking forward to being on the water and continuing to learn fundamentals about fly fishing...oh man did I get that and exponentially more! From a history lesson to tried and true casting and presentation techniques, to seeing what a strike looks like, and a hook set feels like. With Rob right over my shoulder, providing constant guidance and feedback...i also managed to hook 5 fish, 3 of which I landed!!! The image attached is of the largest one. 1 that got away was a large native Brown that was a sight to see as it broke through the waters surface, revealing itself a bit past its gills as it ultimately freed itself from my line. Again, the setting, sounds and some knowledge was what I was chasing on this trip...Rob, made sure I got that and so much more. Highly recommend this place and Rob as an experience like this cannot be priced and is with you forever. read more

Kern River Fly Shop - Native Kern River Rainbow! - Fishing Near Me - Kernville, California

I took a beginners class on fly fishing with Guy Jean and found him to be a patient, gifted, and personable instructor. He pulled together the major concepts and had us practice knots and a few beginning casting methods. I had a lot of fun and now feel very comfortable that I can do this! Without hesitation, I would recommend his classes to beginners and those enthusiasts in the sport that need a few more tips. read more

I have both of Guy Jeans' Sierra Fly Fishing videos. These are what actually made me want to get to the area. The shop is small, but well stocked. Guy wasn't there the day I visited. Flies seemed to be priced at $2.25 and up. No complaints. I bought some nice emergers, dries, and an interesting pink one called Kern Candy. I didn't catch any fish with it, but that is probably due to my lack of experience on the Kern. The person attending the shop was friendly and helpful. I hope to one day soon book a day with Guy and learn more about the beautiful Kern River and how to catch those awesome Rainbows. FYI: I got there early and discovered the Mexican restaurant next door sells a decent cup of coffee for $2. read more

If you are coming to the Kern River Valley to taste some of the outstanding fly-fishing, you'll want to make time for a stop at the Troutfitters. They have friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff who will tell you which of their wide variety of local patterns are producing trout. They'll also give you advice about how to fish them, and they'll even guide you to the best spots on the river if you are so inclined. Over Memorial Day I stopped in and bought a hot stonefly nymph pattern that produced ~15 trout over two days. They were kind enough to tell me not to start my fishing too far upriver - advice which allowed me to catch most of my trout not a mile from their store. Highly recommended! read more