I decided to fish the state park that is about a 15 minute drive from my house.  They call it Clear Creek because it really is usually gin clear and even with the recent it still was pretty clear.  I was hoping to get some pictures and provide a little story on what is going on with this Park.  

    Well the State is making budget cuts with the DCNR and this park is on the short list of parks that could be shut down.  This really is not good news for the are because it it really one of PA's hidden gems.  All of the streams in the park and small Native Brookie streams and the Main stream Clear Creek is also stocked with Brown and Brook trout in about 4 times a year.  The main branch is fish heavily right after the fish trucks show up but then it seems to get neglected and people tend to fish the Clarion River that borders the north end of the park.  He is a little glimpse on why I think this is a gem.  I actually encourage people to check it out and fish it.  The more visitors that come to the park the better chance that it stays open.  Oh and the park is surrounded by Clear Creek state Forest and the Allegheny National Forest is near by as well.  It is in the heart of one of the biggest chunks of public owned land in the Eastern US.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/clearcreek.aspx

From here on I will let the pictures do most of the talking.
























I managed to catch 14 trout and 5 were natives.  I was really surprised in the amount of stockies still left in the stream especially  in the middle of the day use area of the park.

Enjoy!!  

--Last edited by flyfisher on 2009-06-24 11:13:14 --

I heard that Clear Creek is on the list of parks that may close.  It would be a damn shame.  It's beautiful down there.  I wonder if they stop to think of the impact of closing parks like this on the local economy?  I realize they need to balance their budget but closing parks seems like a really bad way to go about it.

They are cutting buget with the DCNR by 60 million so they have to save money somewhere. It is all about the numbers and Harrisburgh will take from us first I am sure.

I have to agree with the things mentioned above. It is a beautiful area and closing it would put some hardships on local small business, the store where I work will be one of them, many of our customers are staying or visiting that park.

I may have to check out fishing the creek itself.. I have never fished it !!!

I do like fishing on the other side of the Clarion where Clear Creek empties in though !!!  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2009-06-24 12:03:13 --

Just wanted to add that when Dan Surra was at our club he was asked about closing the park...

as usual once a politician always a politician...

he did a pretty good job of avoiding the tourism verus budget on this one..

and that's his new job .. to promote tourism in the area ??

He said cuts had to be made somewhere to help balance the budget as much as possible without tax increases etc....

and of course did the political  ...

""Do you have any better solutions""..    

   

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2009-06-24 12:02:02 --

Well you need some things to promote and these parks are one of those things.  I am sorry but Harrisburgh really seems to be clueless with the situation in rural PA.

Fast Eddie only cares about Philly.  He invented this new job position for Dan so of course Dan isn't going to disagree with him.  I like Dan a lot and have always voted for him.  Just sayin.

Anyway the fishing was pretty good and all trout were caught on nymphs only one was a brown trout and i was unable to get a picture of him.