Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

[adidas4862]

I just bought my first boat(95 bayliner 1750), I took it out this past weekend and plan to go out the next couple of weekends. Does any one go there on a weekly basis? Is there any where to anchor and swim with a sandy bottom? I would be interested in meeting up if anyone is willing.

Does anyone know of a better place to go within 40 mins of Stewartstown, PA area?

Thanks,

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

Hello, I go there about every weekend.

out in the middle there is plenty of room a constant 12' of water and goes to 70' = near the dam. I would say you have around 6 mi of running room. Never seems crowded except at the ramps, again lots of room. The coast guard aux patrols the area and 95% of the dangers are marked. dont go near the islands gets shallow quick(the chanel is marked) plenty of marinas in the area incase of mechanical issues.

Once your done tubing and running around go anchor between rookery and shad island to the north alot of boats (20+) hand out there on the weekends since the bottom is sandy. 2-6' of water and a great place to swim and hangout you cant miss it they start rafting up around 11:00 am. I will be there this weekend as long as the weather holds up.

. there is a bunch of islands in the middle to the nort of shad island 3/4 mi. I would use caution going up there 5'- of water. I run a blue stingray cuddie with white flames cant miss it I also monitor vhf 16 (Icebunny3

As far as any place better within 40 miles im sure EZMOBE and some of the others will fill you in more about places on the lower susquahanna (conewingo) etc.

go to this site and click on the map of lake clarke http://www.longlevelmarina.com/lake.htm

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

Depends what you like to do. I always favored the Conewingo Pond. I liked to fish and didnt like the crowds at the ramps at Long Level. I think there is more room at the Conewingo Pond. There is a nice access area off 324 on the York side. Just stay south of the islands. But if you are looking for a more social and watersports atmosphere, then Lake Clark is better. I would avoid Lake Aldred. (between safe harbor and holtwood) Very Rocky.
I'm speaking from many years ago. I've been boating the Bay for the past 15 yrs.
Mark

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

I will also be there this weekend. I have a 16' white viking. I hope to be there Saturday for most of the day. PM me if you want to meet up. I'll shoot you the cell number.

 

[adidas4862]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

Thx for the info... I am going to be there most of the day tomorrow(Sunday) from about 11 till 6 or so. If anyone is going to be there shoot me a number and maybe we can meet up. I will prob be anchored most of the day just hanging out swimming. My boat is a 95 Bayliner 1750 boat name is Out Numbered. hopfully i dont have any engine trouble like last time...

Thx again...

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

I was there from 11 to 5 today. It was a beautiful day!! Would have liked to have met up with some other folks, but I had fun anyway.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

I have typically only boated at Conowingo as my uncle has a cabin there and he lets me keep my boat there all season. This year, however, we have a baby.....so I figured my limited boating would probably be mostly on weekday evenings. I live in York so the 20 minutes from my house down to the public ramp at Lake Clarke was more appealling than shlepping an hour down to Conowingo. Conowingo is much bigger but I find Lake Clarke to be plenty big for anything I'd want to do and I've actually had decent luck fishing there this year. I enjoy it there. HOWEVER......I made the "mistake" of going there on a beautiful Saturday a couple weeks ago. I have never experienced crowded boat ramps like that. It was quite a scene. If someone hadn't been leaving when I put in I wouldn't have had any place to park my truck/trailer. Since then I've been hesitant to go there on a weekend.

If anyone is looking for a boating buddy on a weekday evening on Lake Clarke I'd be happy to tag along or be tagged along with.

 

[adidas4862]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

Lake Clarke can be crowded on a weekend, they have 2 overflow parking lots about 50ft down and up from the public ramp right there. I have been there the past couple of weekends and the main lot has been full but plenty of room in the other lots.

I will be there Saturday from 11 - 6 and Sunday probably same time. Most of the time I will be anchored to just hang out and swim and drink a little.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

We went to lake clarke on sunday I have never seen it so busy. We waited 30 minutes to get the boat wet.

Other than that we had a great day, the water was not too rough considering the amount of traffic. After a few hours of tubing we headed over to the sandbar to cook some dogs, swim and drink a few. To my surprise I counted over 75 boats in the cove, there was allot of older folks with kids there was a couple of crazies but nothing out of control, I never seen that many boats there.

Around 6:00 pm we decided to leave, we had a short wait to get out due to the wonderful Pa boat commission standing at the ramp trying to spot check everyone coming out of the water.

They had 4 officers there and we got lucky and were able to get out and leave before they stopped us, They got buisy with a boat full of kids that appeared to be drunk to me. We were totally legal but i hate being held up for 10 minutes by these guys since they get me about every other time we are out there. The coast guard aux. was doing inspections at the other ramp (lower) also. I was told.

Im not sure if we will get back out to the lake this year (depending on the weather). Next week we are taking the boat down to the upper Chesapeake for the weekend and stay out on the bay.

Denny

 

[ckone0814]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

Hey PA people. Been wanting to do the boating thing for the last 25 years and am finally at a point in life where I can afford to and have the time. Been doing a lot of research and gathering info on used boats and even spent a few hours at Blue Marsh yesterday watching the ramp and lake just to get an idea what I'd be in for. Anyway, I know there arent a whole lot of places in SE and central Pa to go - am I wating my time? Will i be disappopinted? I really don't mind driving to nice places (at least that's how i feel now ). I'm looking to fish, tube, and maybe ski so I need an outfit to cover those plus then fit into local hp limits. It's a little overwhelming!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

Where do you live?

 

[ckone0814]

Re: Lake Clarke, York, PA area....

Where do you live?

Berks - near Adamstown.