Clarks Creek, Special Regs, Dauphin County, March 11, 2013

Sas,

Don't worry about bears. I've only seen 2 in 20+ years. Never had an issue with the snakes either. Everyone mentioned the skeeters as a problem but I think there's two others that top the list for pests. Everyone seemed to miss the deer flies that have run me out of a section before. The other is the insane number of ticks in that valley. I walked my dog down to the bridge below the barn one fall, looked at the creek for 10 minutes and walked back to the parking area where I then removed 13 ticks from my dogs neck and legs. Always leave the waders outside and check myself before taking my after fishing nap.

It is a pretty and remote area for being so close the Hbg. I think we can all agree on that. Is it a world class fishery? No. It can be a fun place visit but I can't see it being worth more than a 20 minute drive unless you are looking to lose yourself in the woods and take some photos.
 
Worried!? I ain't worried! I welcome the chance to see dem' bars so close to home! I learned to FF on the bear-infested Little Kettle. The more woodsy, the better.
 
I'd be more worried about snakes and bears on the stream in the next valley over... But if I were a Sasquatch, I wouldn't be worried about any of that stuff!
 
I noticed that too Sal...but I decided to just let it fly!
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Cant be Sal, sorry thats spoken for. Noid works though. 🙂
 
In early May there seems to be a zillion little no-see-ums that buzz around my face and bite if I don't shush them away. Bug spray works a little but I found cigarette smoke really keeps them at bay.
 

After fishing it for over 50 years, and hunting it for a bunch of years, I would have to say it's one of my favorite places to be. it is where i want my ashes to go, at a much later date I hope 🙂


PaulG
 
PaulG same here. When I go my friends know where to put me. Clarks has been a tradition in my family since I can remember. My Uncles would come up every first day and fish our stretch. Well fish one hole Because they were all so drunk to move. Some have now passed and I make it my job to keep the tradition going. I finally got my father to come back down and trout fish the same spot this year. He has since retired and has nothing else to do. But it amazes me at the older folks how they think the fish commish just dumps trout in and you catch them. When ya catch wild trout on Clarks it just reminds me how lucky I have been to have it in my front yard. I will do nothing less for my kids as my dad did for me.
 
by the way I walked the ffo section after fishing it the night before and I lost my cell phone so I had to go back. I was not impressed at all about the stocking this year. I did not see as many fish as I had thought I would. Also for anyone fishing the area, the fish are holding tight to the banks. So get in and get your line across the water to the other bank or fish the same bank from below and you should do ok.
 
Well, if everyone is getting their ashes dumped in Clarks, it might explain all the silt on the bottom. :lol:
 
IdratherbePhishing wrote:
was not impressed at all about the stocking ,.
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Stocking not the problem as it was not significantly different from past years in terms of # fish, floats, etc. I have done much better on streams with rainbows, maybe cause its been so cold. Those Clark browns don't hit well till it warms a tad.

I suspect those fish are semi starved as there is little bug life evident. Probably everything they think is food has a hook in it.

In good years the fish stay in normal lies but this year most migrated to the downed trees that are almost unfishable. They were not stocked that way.

In any event, stocking alone does not give the fish / mile that is really desired. Better once it warms and the wilds, holdovers, and new arrivals all put the feed bags on.
 
This year I hope to actually catch something above the dam. It's been more annoying than fun in the past, but I suppose a 9' rod will do that.

Clarks shows how wonderful it can be to have almost all of a waterway open to fishing. Stony is similarly beautiful but access is very limited comparatively.


That link posted about the conservation plan was a great read! Thanks very much for posting, and I urge any other known water-plan .pdf files to be posted for other streams. The Clarks findings have correlated very closely with what I've found in terms of fish populations. I was actually quite surprised how cold the streams stays even in its lowest sections (according to that data). I'd previously thought it was much too warm to support trout below the hatchery/bridge
 
Stony has good access from the standpoint that almost all of it is in SGL 211. It just doesn't have a road (that you can drive your car on anyway) paralleling it the whole way like Clarks does. A mountain bike, backpack, and some bungee cords for your rod tube can make for a fun day though.
 
Swattie87 wrote:
Stony has good access from the standpoint that almost all of it is in SGL 211. It just doesn't have a road (that you can drive your car on anyway) paralleling it the whole way like Clarks does. A mountain bike, backpack, and some bungee cords for your rod tube can make for a fun day though.
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x2. You can access the entire stream. Just gotta hike/bike.
 
How do they stock Stoney - float it or drive the big white truck up and dump along the way?
 
EMS sells head nets for $6.
wbranch wrote:
In early May there seems to be a zillion little no-see-ums that buzz around my face and bite if I don't shush them away. Bug spray works a little but I found cigarette smoke really keeps them at bay.
Click to expand...
 
I believe they drive back with the truck to stock stony. But they might float it as well. not sure exactly though
 
I have heard one of the problems with Stoney (which I love, BTW) is that the Amish will fill every stringer they can. Put big parties out and just hammer the stream. Not sure if its true or not, but have heard it more than once.
 
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