Clarion River Help

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FishDoc
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2012/07/09 12:08:44 (permalink)

Clarion River Help

HI All,
 
I am looking to start fishing the Clarion River.  I live right in Clarion and will be launching the boat from Toby.  Can anybody give me some info on where to find and what to use for bait for smallies, walleye, catfish and possibly largemouth.  Thanks in advance for your help.
#1

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    Road Runner
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/09 19:39:17 (permalink)
    my advice is to watch out for all the pleasure boaters on the weekend that place is a zoo.  fish during the week alot less busy or travel a little ways and fish wilhelm or pymatuning
    #2
    Josh7388
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/09 20:31:43 (permalink)
    Never fished clarion but I fish French quite a bit. Can't go wrong with buck tails. Floating jigs tIpped with minnes or a crawler
    #3
    psu_fish
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/09 22:14:30 (permalink)
    I live 15 mins from the 322 bridge and hardly fish it...but when I have, I went at night with crawlers and chicken liver for catfish around the docks..usually can catch some nice channel cats.
     
     
    As for bass..I would target downed trees and deadfalls and also go up into the coves. Largemouth and Rock bass were the main catches. I did catch a sub-legal walleye on a Strike King KVD square bill crank over by the swimmers rock at Toby this past May. Guys will troll for walleyes and musky but I don't waste time on that. Plus there always seems to be alot of debris floating in the river..the speed boats and jet ski's churn it up alot on the weekends and plus the dam holds a alot of stuff back too.
     
     
    All in all I dont like fishing the Piney Reservoir section of the Clarion..would much rather go up to the Cooks Forest section for Smallmouth bass or head west to French Creek or Allegheny River which is also pretty close to me 
    post edited by psu_fish - 2012/07/09 22:16:43
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    Ekaufee17
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/11 19:48:22 (permalink)
    Went up about two months ago. Caught some channel cats and some bullheads. Last summer I caught around 15 perch, 8 of which were keepers, on minnows. Fishing in and around the piney dam is where your going to catch walleye. I haven't done so yet, but I've been sworn to that they're in there.
    #5
    davscool
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/12 12:19:51 (permalink)
    I'll be fishing the Clarion for the first time next week.  Will be in the Cook Forest area.  Any specific tips for this area?  I'll be targeting smallmouths mainly. 
    #6
    doubletaper
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/12 16:18:17 (permalink)
    smallmouth have been tough lately. i don't keep fishing any particular spot but find that if i keep wading/moving along i'll take one now and then. looks like a lot of crayfish and minnows/food in the water for the smallies to feed on. i fish with a fly rod and found current drift or swing with a bugger or clouser will get a few to hit. they aren't taking poppers yet, at least not where i'm fishing. been canoing and been seeing them here and there, even in shallow waters. not sure how the bait fishermen are doing.
    put a pair of shorts on and felt bottom wading shoes. grab the fishing rod and enjoy the water/sights.  good luck ~DT

    http://streamsidetales.bl...015/05/helles-yea.html
    it's not luck
    if success is consistent 





    #7
    kyler16
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/13 03:07:24 (permalink)
    creek chubs and sand pike is all you need to know the rest you should be able to figure out on your own when you make the trip. Be sure to say hi to the queen is your lucky enough to witness the best fisher person on the clarion!

    "If you kill it, eat it. If you eat it, cook it right."
    -Steve Rinella
    #8
    davscool
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    Re:Clarion River Help 2012/07/13 12:31:46 (permalink)
    Thanks for the replies!  We'll be floating kayaks down the river.  I've never been through that neck of the woods, but am looking forward to it.
    #9
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