Originating in the town of Freedom in northeast Cattaraugus County, Clear Creek flows northwest into Wyoming County and joins Cattaraugus Creek in the Village of Arcade.
Public Access
There are 5.5 miles of Public Fishing Rights easements (PFR) located along Clear Creek with five designated PFR parking areas.
Parking Areas
- Galen Hill Road: PFR parking at Galen Hill Road crossing, located 1.5 miles southeast from the Hamlet of Sandusky off Route 98.
- Route 98: PFR parking area on south side of Route 98, located 1 mile southeast from the Hamlet of Sandusky.
- Jones Road: PFR parking at Jones Road crossing, located 0.5 miles northwest from the Hamlet of Sandusky off Route 98.
- Sparks Road: PFR parking at Sparks Road crossing, located 0.75 miles northwest from the Hamlet of Sandusky off Route 98.
- Bray Road: PFR parking at Bray Road crossing, located 1.5 miles southeast from Village of Arcade off Route 98.
DECinfo Locator- Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (DECinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer)
Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide ("How to" instructions for using the fishing map on DECinfo Locator)
Fish Species
Brown trout and rainbow trout.
General Fishing Information
Clear Creek provides good fishing for naturally reproducing populations of wild brown and rainbow trout. The creek substrate is predominantly smaller rock, gravel and sand. There are some overgrown areas upstream, however much of the creek is between 15-20 feet wide with plenty of gravel bars, making it quite conducive to fly fishing. Clear Creek tends to drop back quickly after rain and snowmelt events, when other nearby streams are still running high and stained. Water temperatures typically remain cooler than 70 degrees for most of the summer, except during the hottest and driest periods.
Please view Fishing for Stream Trout for more advice on fishing for both wild and stocked trout.
Fishing Regulations
Inland Trout Stream Regulations Apply.
Fisheries Management
Clear Creek has been managed solely as a wild trout fishery since 1992. The stream is routinely surveyed by electrofishing to track trout population abundance and population trends. For more information view the Clear Lake (Arcade) Technical Brief (PDF) from a recent DEC fisheries survey.