Clarks Creek, Dauphin County, 03/08/2011

[3wt7X]

I fished Clarks for the first time this year yesterday. Upon arriving, I noticed the stream had a strong flow and it was slightly off colored, but overall it looked great for swinging streamers. I did not get a stream temperature, but in a word, it was cold. I noticed some sparse midge activity and the occasional tiny black stonefly fluttering down stream.
I stuck with streamers for the majority of the day. Clarks must have been recently stocked in the FFO section, because the fish were stacked up in the tailout of most pools. I took a lot of very ugly trout, and a couple really pretty wild ones mixed in. Overall, it was a fun day, in a beautiful area. I did not see anyother fisherman all day, on Clarks, and I only saw one when I stopped at the Letort on my way back home.

P.S. The bottom picture of a brown trout that I am posting has to be the ugliest brown trout I've ever seen.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Your right. #3 is ugly!

Looks like a good day.

 

[JakesLeakyWaders]

Do you fish with a Tfo finesse ? Looks like maybe. I have a 2 and 4 weight, I like them.

Nice morning to get out. 🙂

 

[3wt7X]

James,
I don't think it is the finess series, rather just the standard Lefty Kreh Signature Series. For a $100 rod, it has treated me really well. I just cannot justify paying a lot for a rod, to catch the same fish.

 

[ryguyfi]

I've seen a handful of stocked browns look like that over the last few years. It's kind of borderline tiger, but I don't think it is. I know they were messing with the genes to make the fish "prettier" the last few years and that fish may be a negative result of that.

Nice report. I'm stuck in the office daydreaming of hitting a stream right now.


You could play the "one of these ones is not like the other one" game pretty easily with those fish... just check out the fins and tail, dead give away.

 

[IdratherbePhishing]

I also fished Clarks yesterday! Wondering where you were in the FFO. I was in the Gunrange parking lot there fishing. Had a great day catching more than 30 plus trout mostly stocked. Definitely saw the same midge and stoneflys that you were seeing and some were definitely taking top. I was there around 8 am till about 3. At the lot i had seen about 3 or 4 people fishing. Then around when I left it was starting to get crazy with people probably getting off work. Most of mine were caught off a soft hackle midge and some streamers. Also with some white woolybuggers size 8. First two casts caught fish with the wooly. And yes Clarks was just stocked by the state March 5th. It was pretty cool to fish Clarks all day as the stream was going down in depth. In the morning it was rushing pretty good. The fact that you didnt see anyone was strange, I dont think I've ever been to Clarks FFO and not seen anyone. And i live in Dauphin and go there ALOT. Anyways, good fishing nice pics!

 

[iceyguides]

this was yrs ago now, but i caught the weirdest trout i've ever seen on the clarks. Genetically speaking i'm pretty sure it was a brown trout, but it was almost pitch black. I've never seen a brown trout that dark. I wish i had a camera back then to take a picture. I didn't have a camera and i didn't want to stress the fish so i put it back quick. Despite being a big fan of streamers, i've never had much luck with them on the clarks. nice report.

 

[teacreekfreak]

you guys know nothing about salmonidae family, the species in question (picture 3) is that of the marble trout, commonly found in the Adriatic basin of the................oh wait, this was at clarks?? Nevermind, i stand corrected, you are right, it is the ugliest hatchery product i have ever seen

 

[IdratherbePhishing]

I actually caught a couple like that myself that day. Kinda looked like there was oil spilled on em. I'm not sure who the states hatchery is as that is definitely an ugly stockee.

 

[JakesLeakyWaders]

James, I don't think it is the finess series

Why do I keep getting called James ??? :-?

Must be some inside joke. 🙂

 

[Treeguy]

#3 does look like it has some confused trout colorations and markings..

 

[Angled]

Clarks was flooded today and road (Clarks valley rd) was closed. Not sure if it will be fishable this weekend.

 

[sipe]

Keep me updated on stream conditions. I'd like to fish Clarks on Sunday if it is fishable.

 

[PaulG]

Save your gas, this weekend is a lose!

PaulG

 

[IdratherbePhishing]

Clarks is still flooded but the road is back open. I havent heard anything on the underpass coming into dauphin being closed but they did have Pendot trucks there waiting to pump the water last night. Im sure it will still be blown out tomorrow. This sucks too I just bought a new reel and Ive been dying to get back out. The last day I had in Clarks on the 8th was amazing.