This spring I made a decision to really explore an area close to home. There are lots of creeks and the plan was to explore everything that is big enough to hold fish. In doing so I got on google maps and started making plans. I had fished a few creeks in this area already. I’ve also seen some trip reports of creeks in this area. I’ve been told that there were no fish in one creek but was skeptical. The bigger creeks that I had fished or had trip reports were no brainers and landed on the list. The question was about the smaller creeks. How small is too small to even bother with? This has become a big question for my project. Over the years I had been surprised at some of the places that I have found fish. Even with that in mind, I have never fished anything that I thought might not have fish in it. This project would break that mold. I figured a good starting point was any blue line big enough for a name went on the list. Then I stated looking at how big the drainage area was and how long the blue line was. Could I find any pictures of the creeks on line? This helped narrow down the list a bit. When in doubt, I would leave a name on the list. This project is really more about exploration than catching fish. I printed a bunch of maps and put them in a folder that now lives in my car and started the season. Thus far I’ve had a fantastic year. Lots of great surprises in fantastic areas that don’t get visited often. And I’m not just talking about fish. I never know what’s around the next bend. Even the creeks that follow well known trails that I have previously hiked have been well worth exploration. I have learned a ton. By this point in the season I have fished all of the creeks that were high on my list. The ones that you drive by and think “one of these days I should go up there”. So far only two creeks have not given up at least a couple fish. That being said, one of them had some salmon habitat restoration done. It had one small pocket that I was a little surprised that I didn’t get a rise. I bet there are trout in there somewhere. The other was smaller but I did see some small fish in the less than an inch range so I wouldn’t rule that one out either. That brings me to my trip report. Yesterday I went out yet again. The area had 5 little creeks accessible within a 2 mile trail of each other. I had listed two as “probably not” and three as “maybe”. The first creek is right by the trailhead. A 30 second scan changed by opinion from “maybe” to “probably not” but we will see if I have any time left at the end of the day. The next creek was just a short distance from the trail head. This one was in the “probably not” category and became a no as soon as I saw it. There is a nice little waterfall but just not enough water. There really wasn’t even a pool at the bottom of the falls. The water just disappeared into rocks. I’m sure in the winter and spring there would be a little flow but noting right now. Off to the next “maybe” creek. This one also lead me to a small waterfall next to the trail.
I fished to pools around the falls and a few hundred yards downstream. I didn’t see any sign of fish. Based on what I have seen all summer, if there were fish in there, they would rise. I was hoping to be able to try a bit above the falls too but the trail was closed. I’m calling it fishless but wouldn’t be too surprised if I was wrong. Off to the next creek. I had the highest hopes for this one. It had the biggest watershed of the 5 and appeared to originate from a small lake. First off the bat, I could see that it had much more water than the first 3. Probably more than all 3 combined. Next to the trail it’s mostly flat and shallow but some small pockets. It only took one cast to bring something to the surface. The day wasn’t going to be a bust. The trail does not follow the creek at all so all signs of other people quickly disappeared. A short way up the stream the pockets started getting a little bigger and all held fish. This is the first one that caught my attention.
The creek went from flowing through a somewhat flattish forest to coming out of a steep canyon. Perfect place to take a break. Get a water temp (60 degrees) and catch a few fish. Moving on, I turn the corner and see this.
A steep series of pools and small falls. It’s places like this that make it clear why I’m doing this. A great place that can’t be seen from a road or the trail. There’s no reference of falls here that I could find on-line. This is my kind of place. I went up and fished every step of the falls. There were fish in every one of them. Noting large, all under 8” or so but the eagerly rose to a dry fly. Great fun! I was tempted to go above the falls but it was steep, I was alone, it was getting late and I still had one more creek to try. Maybe another time. The final creek was a “probably not” on my list. It turned out to be bone dry. From there, 2 miles back to the car. I had a little time so I threw a few flies at the biggest pools I could see at the trailhead. I didn’t see anything rise so this creek is going into the no fish list. Turned out to be a great day. 5 creeks off my list. 4 of them too small and one that I really enjoyed. I still have a lot more creeks on my list for the summer and can’t wait for the next one, even if it lands on the no fish list.
I fished to pools around the falls and a few hundred yards downstream. I didn’t see any sign of fish. Based on what I have seen all summer, if there were fish in there, they would rise. I was hoping to be able to try a bit above the falls too but the trail was closed. I’m calling it fishless but wouldn’t be too surprised if I was wrong. Off to the next creek. I had the highest hopes for this one. It had the biggest watershed of the 5 and appeared to originate from a small lake. First off the bat, I could see that it had much more water than the first 3. Probably more than all 3 combined. Next to the trail it’s mostly flat and shallow but some small pockets. It only took one cast to bring something to the surface. The day wasn’t going to be a bust. The trail does not follow the creek at all so all signs of other people quickly disappeared. A short way up the stream the pockets started getting a little bigger and all held fish. This is the first one that caught my attention.
The creek went from flowing through a somewhat flattish forest to coming out of a steep canyon. Perfect place to take a break. Get a water temp (60 degrees) and catch a few fish. Moving on, I turn the corner and see this.
A steep series of pools and small falls. It’s places like this that make it clear why I’m doing this. A great place that can’t be seen from a road or the trail. There’s no reference of falls here that I could find on-line. This is my kind of place. I went up and fished every step of the falls. There were fish in every one of them. Noting large, all under 8” or so but the eagerly rose to a dry fly. Great fun! I was tempted to go above the falls but it was steep, I was alone, it was getting late and I still had one more creek to try. Maybe another time. The final creek was a “probably not” on my list. It turned out to be bone dry. From there, 2 miles back to the car. I had a little time so I threw a few flies at the biggest pools I could see at the trailhead. I didn’t see anything rise so this creek is going into the no fish list. Turned out to be a great day. 5 creeks off my list. 4 of them too small and one that I really enjoyed. I still have a lot more creeks on my list for the summer and can’t wait for the next one, even if it lands on the no fish list.
