Clarks Creek, Dauphin Co, 03/01/09

HBGMarine

HBGMarine

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Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
119
Sunday I fished the first mile of the FFO section of Clarks Creek from about 12-3pm. Air temp was 43 degrees, and cloudy the entire time. Water was low, slow, and vodka clear. The only action the whole time was two separate trout slowly nosed a black woolly bugger. In two areas I saw 20+ large trout mixed with a few suckers holing in some gravel & sand bottom but they wanted nothing to do with me. Overall the fish were inactive and easily spooked but it was good to get out 🙂
 
I cant wait to get out! I was planning on going out today, but the snow and wind put things off until later this week. I'll let you know how I make out. It's suppose to get a little warmer, so hopefully it melts some of the snow and raises the water level to spice things up a bit.
 
I had some luck on Clarks Cr. last year around this time by sight casting with a size 16 adams dry fly and a beadhead Pheasant tail as an 18 inch dropper fly. The adams seemed to provide a delicate presentation and it served as a great indicator. Although most of the strikes were visible in that Gin clear water. I hope to make it up there soon.
 
Usually I go with either a hare's ear or pheasant tail with a prince nymph dropper on Clarks and do pretty well but that section skunked me for the 2nd time in a row. I'll be back out on the 14th or 15th of March to catch some stockies and hopefully a few of those big holdovers. I'll be sure to post another report after that.
 
I'm going to float stock clarks FFO tomarrow unless the PFBC is hurting for help in a different section. I'll let you know if I drop off any bruisers.
 
guys we need to get together some time on Clarks. I live over in Fishing Creek Valley close to Manada and fish clarks and stoney pretty frequently. Always looking for new fishing buddies in the area.
 
I live right outside Harrisburg and both streams are a short drive for me and would definitely be able to meet at either sometime. Saturday/Sunday are the best days for me. I'll drop a PM next time I'm heading out. I might be out this Sunday but I haven't decided yet.
 
Paul G lives across the river from Clarks. and I live near York, an hour away but let us know when you guys plan to meet and we may hop over there to wet a line with ya.

I like fishing during the week but a weekend may be doable. Remember, the evenings are longer after this weekend.
 
I usually stay away from Clarks till the weather warms. Always stays cold down by the stream, not a lot of Sun get down in there. Always nice to fish with other members, so let us know!
PaulG
 
Sounds like we could have quite a gathering! I'll bring the beers.... 🙂
 
I am usually able to get up there by 4:30 at the latest . Once the water temperatures rise a bit I am game for most evenings . Weekends get pretty packed on the fly stretch . Many anglers give up on the open water upstream after the first two weeks . Their mistake , as there are always plenty there for us to catch and release . ....Finn
 
That would be great if everyone wants to get together. I'm only about 12 miles from the FFO section, and being somewhat new to this I might learn a few things! I'll be on the lower half tomarrow afternoon parked by the white barn if anyone is interested.
 
Let me know when the war party is meetin' up at Clarks. I'll mark it on the calender and head the opposite direction. Five or six on the same stream is too much for me. I like those days when I see one person gettin' to the stream just as I'm leavin' although it's a great way to meet some people from the site.
 
I just got back from clarks. I was suprised that the state stocked rainbows in along with the brookie and brownies. It was kinda slow until about 4:30 then we started to catch them on streamers. The green bead head wooley bugger did the best. I even hooked into about a 14inch native brownie by some dead fall. We had a blast for the first outing of the year!
 
I have a hard time understanding rainbows in a reg section and find that disheartening. Limestone streams maybe.
I'm waiting for a friend to get off 3rd shift and I'll post when we get back.
Nice job helping clarksvalley, I wasnt able to make it this year.
Did you get to help with a float?
 
Well hell, count me in on this shindig! Clarks, are you a local? I'm from Williamstown but live over in Pine Grove these days.

Boyer

PS, ST, I agree on the rainbow thing. A year or so ago they went back to stocking 'bows above the dam. They're lucky they're the crappiest tasting trout, or I'd hafta' reconsider C&R.
 
There were rainbows, but not many. It was almost like the state just used them because they were short to give us more fish. My float had eight buckets and maybe fifteen of all those fish were rainbows. However, I do agree I would much rather have just been cut short on a few fish and kept it just brooks and browns.

Squaretail, My wife and I took a float from the parking lot about a half mile above the white barn back down to it. We had enough guys volunteer to float the entire two-mile section.

Matt, I live in Orwin(outskirts of Tower City)
 
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