Freestone · Limestone · British Columbia

St. Mary River

St. Mary River terrain map
Terrain map

The St.

Species

Closed season

Season reopens 15 June. Plenty of other water available now.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.
Water temperature for bull trout
Ideal
10°C est.ideal 6–12°C
0°14°28°
The full read · show the working · for bull trout · confidence 75%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow60 × 22%13.2
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time95 × 13%12.4
Pressure75 × 7%5.3
Insect activity48 × 12%5.8
Conditions total= 82
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
Conditions
○Regional est.
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
10.4°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
9°C
Wind
S 5 km/h
Calm
Pressure
1024 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.3 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 7 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

How to fish it · for bull trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2
American March BrownHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Native-trout C&R, classified rules in places, bull trout protected
  • Verify current BC regs (Region 4).
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The St. Mary is a fine, less-pressured Kootenay cutthroat river near Kimberley — clear limestone freestone with riffles, runs and a good canyon, holding native westslope cutthroat and bull trout with some rainbows. It fishes as excellent summer and autumn dry-fly water once it drops into shape, a worthy sibling to the nearby Elk.

Under the surface

The St. Mary near Kimberley and Cranbrook is a clear, lively Kootenay freestone holding native westslope cutthroat and bull trout with some rainbows — riffles, runs and a fine canyon section in big mountain country. A worthy companion to the Elk, less pressured, with excellent summer and autumn dry-fly fishing once the river drops into shape.

Wading: Swift cold water, slick rock, flashy after storms

  • Limestone
  • Confined
  • Pool riffle
  • Pocket water
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 June → 31 October
Other water nearby · 2
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