dc410
Well-known member
I was driving down Rte 325 through Clarks Valley this afternoon with the outside temp on the dash of my truck showing close to 60 degrees. I just couldn't resist the urge to stop and hit Clarks for a chance at bringing to hand my first trout of 2016. With it being March 1st, I had to pass on some of my favorite stretches and focus on the FFO-C&R section. There were a few vehicles parked in the parking lot at the top of the special regs section so I continued down the road and pulled off into one of the smaller parking areas mid way down through the fly stretch.
My main goal was to bring my first trout of the year to hand using my new leader set up (indicator section tied into the leader) for tight line nymphing. As I approached the creek it was a bit off color with a greenish tint and was still fairly high and flowing very quickly from last weeks big rain event. I liked the color of the water. Certainly not the gin clear water that I am used to seeing on Clarks when I generally fish it during the summer months. The water temperature was 41 degrees so my nymphs would need to be as close to the bottom as I could get them to run. I fished for less an hour and was fortunate to bring a beautiful Clarks Creek brownie to hand on a jig style tungsten bead head PT fished as the point fly on my rig. After a long break from fishing this winter it really felt good to get into a fish. As soon as I released the trout I packed it up and headed back to my truck. Mission accomplished. It was a great way to kick off the 2016 season and doing it on the gorgeous hemlock lined banks of Clarks Creek even made it better.
My main goal was to bring my first trout of the year to hand using my new leader set up (indicator section tied into the leader) for tight line nymphing. As I approached the creek it was a bit off color with a greenish tint and was still fairly high and flowing very quickly from last weeks big rain event. I liked the color of the water. Certainly not the gin clear water that I am used to seeing on Clarks when I generally fish it during the summer months. The water temperature was 41 degrees so my nymphs would need to be as close to the bottom as I could get them to run. I fished for less an hour and was fortunate to bring a beautiful Clarks Creek brownie to hand on a jig style tungsten bead head PT fished as the point fly on my rig. After a long break from fishing this winter it really felt good to get into a fish. As soon as I released the trout I packed it up and headed back to my truck. Mission accomplished. It was a great way to kick off the 2016 season and doing it on the gorgeous hemlock lined banks of Clarks Creek even made it better.
