Boulder Creek July 22 2023

I'd previously marked Boulder Creek as a possible trout spot but when I got there it was a roaring mass of white water.  I needed to do some hiking anyway to get ready for fall hunting so off I went following the well traveled trail.  For several miles there was no let up in the thunderous rapids dashing my hopes that the stream would get skinnier the further upstream one went.

  About 4 miles in I finally found a relatively flat section and some classic backcountry trout holes.

Took just three casts to start hinting brookies and cutbows.  There were two other pools just downstream which were even better.  Caught 6 or 7 and had strikes from a dozen more.  So amazing to see a trout come up in the clear waters and take the fly!

 The sun beats down very hard out here and it really drains my body.  I got back to the truck around 6:30, exhausted.   Found a dispersed campsite overlooking Boulder Lake.

Heading to the area around Big Sandy Campground on Sunday.