USGS 13295000 VALLEY CREEK AT STANLEY ID
~2.5 hrs from Home to parking. Turned off at Seafoam, immediate right and quickly pulled into dead-end meadow access just before bridge. Can see 21 from parking spot. Lola Creek Campground Rd ( go straight after pulling off Hwy 21), runs right along the creek with campsites along. Dead-ends at trailhead that follows BVC all the way to MF Salmon. Definitely a GOTTA-GO with the quality of fishing below trailhead. Can't imagine the fishing further down.
Water was low and crystal clear. Temps in 105+ in Boise, ~85 here. Hiked down old Jeep trail along creek, really easy hiking. Most of the water was flat and shallow with rare deeper runs until you got to Beaver Creek. Fish a few of those on the way back - mostly Brookies 6-10in range.
Wet waded - warm air, cold water, very refreshing.
Hit the pool at the confluence and caught a gorgeous 15 in Westslope Cutt on the first cast. Large pool with nice feed and rocky bottom. Caught a couple (1 Cutt, 1 Rainbow) more on dries but seemed to dry up rather quickly. Changed over to a Prince with the small Hare's Ear dropper (~3 ft float to end) and then the fun began.
The float started bobing as soon as it hit the pool, and I though snags on the bottom but retrospectively were probably fish. Pulled 2/3 way through, had fish but came off. Second cast above, floated into pool, float dropped, pulled and thought had a snag until line started peeling off reel. After 20 long minutes, landed a 24 in Bull trout. Massive fish. Hellva fight! Third cast, 14 in Bull.
Got hits literally with every cast. Must of missed or lost ~7 fish. Did bring in a couple of 12-14 in Bows and then a couple of 12 in whitefish. An awesome day of fishing!
Flies there were relentless. Constant buzzing around face and landing everywhere on you. No the biting flies, just the damn annoying ones. Literally from the moment I stepped out of the truck until I got back in.
Will be back to trailhead and fish down to MFS!
