05-27-2009, 11:50 PM
Might be a bit early still for any of the hike in alpine lakes near Stanley. Based on the Lowman Ranger district's website, Bull Trout Lake was still inaccessible due to snow through Memorial Day weekend.
2 years ago I camped near Stanley and fished the Salmon River mainly below Lower Stanley on Memorial Day weekend. The fishing in the river was excellent for Steelhead smolts and an occasional large Bull Trout. The dredge ponds up on the Yankee Fork were also well stocked with 10-12 inch Rainbows. One lake you might consider trying that's further downstream from the Yankee Fork and up off the E. Fork of the Salmon is Jimmy Smith lake. You can drive in fairly close but then have to hike in about a half mile to the lake. It's quite a bit lower elevation than Stanley, so I'm sure the snow has melted by now. When I was there two years ago, the fishing was good for 12-13 inch Rainbows but there always that chance you might hook into a carryover from last year's plantings.
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2 years ago I camped near Stanley and fished the Salmon River mainly below Lower Stanley on Memorial Day weekend. The fishing in the river was excellent for Steelhead smolts and an occasional large Bull Trout. The dredge ponds up on the Yankee Fork were also well stocked with 10-12 inch Rainbows. One lake you might consider trying that's further downstream from the Yankee Fork and up off the E. Fork of the Salmon is Jimmy Smith lake. You can drive in fairly close but then have to hike in about a half mile to the lake. It's quite a bit lower elevation than Stanley, so I'm sure the snow has melted by now. When I was there two years ago, the fishing was good for 12-13 inch Rainbows but there always that chance you might hook into a carryover from last year's plantings.
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