Clarion River
Allegheny Region Tactical Dashboard
Access: Excellent
National Wild and Scenic River. A recovered industrial waterway that now hosts a premier multi-species fishery. This river is notable for an enormous population of hellgrammites and abundant crayfish which serve as the primary forage for trophy-sized trout.
River
Inland Waters
PFBC Stocked
N/A
4' / 12'
Tactical Profile
Primary Habitat: Serpentine valleys, rock outcrops, and intermittent riffles
Target Species: Brown Trout Smallmouth Bass Walleye
Full Species List: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Sucker, Yellow Perch, Crayfish, Hellgrammites
Best Strategy: Trout in upper colder sections; target deep eddies for Walleye and moving water for Bass.
Recommended Baits: Blue-Winged Olives, Tube Jigs, Helgrammites, Crayfish patterns
Launch & Access Points
Irwin Run Canoe Access
Parking for 12 cars, restroom
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Parking for 12 cars, restroom
Hallton (Spring Creek)
Gravel access
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Gravel access
Portland Mills
Limited parking
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Limited parking
Kilgus Road Access
Rough road access
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Rough road access
Millstone Access
Forest road access
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Forest road access
Clear Creek State Park
Full park amenities
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Full park amenities
Cook Forest (Rt 36)
High-traffic area
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High-traffic area
Northern Arm Access (Instanter)
Gravel Ramp, Primitive Access
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Gravel Ramp, Primitive Access
2026 Season Outlook
| Species | PA (PFBC) | NY (DEC) |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Apr 4 | Apr 1 |
| Walleye | May 2 | May 1 |
| Bass | Jun 13 | Jun 15 |
| Northern Pike | Jan 1 | May 1 |
| Muskellunge | Jan 1 | Jun 1 |
| Yellow Perch | Jan 1 | Jan 1 |
| Catfish | Jan 1 | Jan 1 |