East Branch Clarion River
Fishing and stocking
Stocked March to October in 2026, heaviest in March: rainbow trout, brown trout, and golden rainbow trout, 10 plants in all. One of 19 stocked waters on the Elk County record.
Elk County · Pennsylvania · see it on the national map
Water temp 51 °F at Clarion River at Johnsonburg, PA, 1 km away USGS site 03028500 · read 8:45 pm this evening
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Rainbow trout
Golden rainbow trout
Brown trout
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked today.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24 | Rainbow trout | adult | stocked | |
| Mar 24 | Golden rainbow trout | adult | stocked | |
| Mar 31 | Rainbow trout | adult | stocked | |
| Mar 31 | Golden rainbow trout | adult | stocked | |
| Apr 16 | Rainbow trout | adult | stocked | |
| Apr 16 | Brown trout | adult | stocked | |
| May 7 | Rainbow trout x 2 sections | adult | stocked | |
| May 7 | Brown trout | adult | stocked | |
| Oct 6 | Rainbow trout | adult | stocked |
When to fish East Branch Clarion River
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 9:52-11:52 am and 10:14 pm-12:14 am | 4:08-5:08 am and 4:24-5:24 pm |
| Tomorrow | 10:38 am-12:38 pm | 5:17-6:17 am and 4:47-5:47 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Stocked 17 days ago (Oct 6)
- Water 51 °F at a gauge 1 km away, prime coldwater range
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Pennsylvania fishing forecast
Getting on the water
| Access point | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bendigo State Park Canoe Launch | shore fishing | no fee |
Access points from PA Fish and Boat Commission access records. Ramps, fees, and hours change; check before towing a boat a long way.
Gear for this water
Stocked within the last three weeks: fish are still bunched near the release points and keyed on familiar smells.
For the trout (rainbow trout stocked 6 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Small jerkbaits | floating minnows in the 2 to 3 inch class for the deeper bends |
| Waders or wet-wading boots | stocked stream fish stack in the obvious pools; getting to the next one is the edge |
| Light spinning rod | 5 to 6.5 ft light or ultralight; short rods cast under branches |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Named as published by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Each link opens the official text; read the rule there before you fish. We do not restate regulations.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Crooked Creek | 4.7 mi | May 7 |
| Elk Creek | 5.6 mi | Apr 8 |
| Wilson Run | 5.9 mi | Apr 11 |
| Big Mill Creek | 7.9 mi | May 5 |
| East Branch Clarion River Lake | 8.5 mi | 2026 season |
Follow Elk County stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule