Clarion River Pennsylvania Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone Stream & Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout (Stocked with Holdovers and some wild)
Rainbow Trout (Stocked)
Brook Trout (Native)
Size
Medium
Location
Western Central Pennsylvania
Nearest Town
Johnsonburg
Season
First Saturday of April through
February:
Access:
Varies from good to poor
Non-Resident License
State of Pennsylvania
Weather
National Weather Service Link
UGGS Real Time Stream Flow
(Ridgeway)
USGS Real Time Stream
Flow:(Cooksburg)
Seasons:
The season follows the standard Pennsylvania trout season
Spring:
Springtime is a good time for fly fishing the Clarion River due to its plentiful aquatic insect hatches.
Summer:
Fly fishing usually slows down some during the Summer in the main stem and West Branch but the East Branch stays cool during the hot Summer.
Fall:
Fall is the best time to catch a larger holdover or wild brown trout because of the spawn.
Winter:
The East Branch provides very good fishing during the cold Winter months due to the warmer tailwater of the East Branch Dam.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Clarion River Pennsylvania
Several years ago, Willamette Industries purchased a paper plant that was adding residue and warm water discharges into the Clarion River. Acid mine runoff also plagued the stream. The new owners took action to clean up the river and with the help of many other organizations, the Clarion River is now a quality trout stream. The East and West Branches of the Clarion River join together to form the main stem at the little town of Johnsonburg. That’s also the location of the paper plant.
The East Branch of the Clarion River is a bottom discharged tailwater that maintains a cool flow of water throughout the Summer. The dam is located six miles upstream from the junction of the West Branch. There’s a mile and a half long Delayed Harvest Section below the East Branch Dam. Fly fishing the Clarion River is good year-round in the East Branch.
The West Branch of the Clarion River is a freestone stream. It begins above Wilcox and flows about six miles to Johnsonburg. The stream flows through a valley and warms early in the Summer. State Route 219 follows along the stream the entire distance below Wilcox. At the community of Tambine, there’s a no wading, catch and release, fly fishing only section on the West Branch. Many dislike the no wading rule but it does at least offer some protection for the trout. The fame of the West Branch is its Green Drake hatch. Both the East and West Branches are stocked by the Willamette Fish and Game Club.
The main stem of the Clarion River has an eight mile stretch of water from Johnsonburg to Ridgeway that’s classified by the state as All Tackle Trophy Water. It averages about sixty to eighty feet in width with a typical pool, riffle run configuration. There’s private property along this section but it’s legal to fish the entire stretch provided you stay within the stream’s high water mark.