Free Resource · Updated 2026
Kelly Creek is a remote freestone stream in the Clearwater National Forest of northern Idaho. It holds wild westslope cutthroat trout that rarely see pressure. Access requires a long drive on forest roads. The fish are willing and the hatches are reliable. Caddis and Golden Stones dominate the early summer and hoppers extend the season.
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Kelly Creek Hatch Calendar — Quick Reference
Kelly Creek drains into the North Fork Clearwater River in Clearwater County. The upper reaches are accessible only by forest road and foot travel. The remote location means the cutthroat here are naive and respond eagerly to well-placed dry flies. It is not a technical fishery. It rewards persistence and a willingness to hike.
Westslope cutthroat are the primary species throughout Kelly Creek. They average 8 to 12 inches in the upper sections with larger fish in the deeper holes downstream. The fish are wild and self-sustaining with no stocking. The stream has a healthy population due to its remote location and limited fishing pressure.
Caddis are the workhorse hatch from May through August. Golden Stones fire in late May and June. PMDs hatch through June and July in the slower stretches. Hopper fishing is excellent from late July through September when the meadow banks are full of grasshoppers. BWOs provide action on overcast days in spring and fall.
See the full Idaho Fly Hatch Chart for hatch timing across all of Idaho's top trout streams.
Check Conditions Near Kelly CreekWhat to Fish
Caddis are the most reliable hatch on Kelly Creek through the summer. June is the peak month with dense evening hatches that bring cutthroat up across the stream. An Elk Hair Caddis in size 16 works in almost any section. The cutthroat here are not selective and want a fly that looks alive and lands without spooking them.
Recommended: #14-18 Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis
Golden Stoneflies emerge in late May on Kelly Creek and the hatch continues into July on the upper sections. Fish a Stimulator or a foam-bodied Golden Stonefly near the banks and in the tailouts of pools. The cutthroat respond aggressively to the large dry fly. This is the most visual hatch of the year on Kelly Creek.
Recommended: #8-12 Stimulator, Golden Stonefly
Hopper fishing on Kelly Creek is straightforward and productive. The meadow sections have grassy banks that hold grasshoppers through late summer. Cast a big foam hopper within a few feet of the bank and let it drift. The cutthroat hit fast and without hesitation. A small nymph dropper increases the catch rate on slow days.
Recommended: #8-12 Dave's Hopper, Stimulator
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