Clarks Creek Dauphin County; May 07

[wbranch]

Started at upper end of the C&RFFO water at 8:00 and fished until 3:00. Water was higher than I remember seeing it in years but it was quite clean. It had a good two feet of visibility. I had high expectations and was anticipating a twenty fish day as I have had them in the past in early May.

Water was only 46 degrees at 8:00 and 50 at 3:00. Zillions of adult midges all day but very few rising fish. Landed three on a #20 CDC caddis. Saw only one mayfly all day and it looked to be about a #12.

Landed a dozen, four brookies and the rest browns. Two of the browns were 5"- 7" and appeared wild. Caught all fish, other than the three on top, on either #12 BH Green Weenie, #14 LaFontaine emergent pupa with olive body, or #18 Brown soft hackle. IMO not that many fish in the creek. Only saw two guys all day but there were eight cars in lot in the morning and only one when I left - figured no one was having very much success.

 

[jkilroy]

Thats good for that creek

 

[wbranch]

I nymphed hard all day, went to 5X when sun got high on the water.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear wbranch,

You did pretty well considering the water conditions.

In my opinion we need a couple more warm dry days for the fishing in Clarks to pick up. 50 degrees at 3:00 in the afternoon the first weekend in May is more like Catskills conditions for that time of year.

In years past I've had very good fishing this time of year on Clarks using March Brown dries, maybe by next weekend they will be looking up more?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[wbranch]

Hi Tim,

"50 degrees at 3:00 in the afternoon the first weekend in May is more like Catskills conditions for that time of year."

I agree, I have a place on the WB and in normal years I would of gone up already. Just too much high water now. Maybe I'll see u on Clarks next weekend.

 

[PaulG]

March brown hatch on Clarks is great, those trout just love those big ole flies. We've had some fun days fishin MB's on clarks.

PaulG

 

[scottrum]

I was on Clarks Thursday 5/5 did really well. Landed three on crytal flash olive wooly bugger, three on red copper johns and the last four on the surface with elk hair caddis late in the day. First fish on the surface for the year. It was a good feeling.