McDermid Creek is a short tributary of Sand Creek, which in turn flows into the Kootenay River through the Bull River watershed group. Provincial fish-inventory data confirms wild westslope cutthroat trout here, though the record is thin: just two logged fish on a small, narrow drainage with no dedicated guide coverage.
The water
The creek runs roughly 9 km at stream order 4 (mid-range in the network, on a scale that runs from 1 for a headwater trickle up to 6 or more for a full river), joining Sand Creek before that creek reaches the Kootenay River. Its local beat centroid sits at 49.39274, -115.10813. Against Sand Creek's other mapped tributaries, McDermid sits well below Little Sand Creek's 55 fish records, but ahead of Whimster Creek, which has none confirmed yet.
The fishing
Both fish-inventory records on McDermid Creek are westslope cutthroat trout, with no other species logged. No guide or outfitter publishes dedicated coverage, so work it as small-stream exploratory water: short drifts, a buoyant attractor dry, and a light dropper for a narrow, moderate-gradient channel that will not tolerate a long line.
Expect the standard East Kootenay small-stream hatch calendar: Caddisflies (Sedges) and Mayflies through summer, small Stoneflies in the faster runs, and Terrestrials (Hoppers, Ants, Beetles) once the banks dry out in August. Carry an Adams, Elk Hair Caddis and Royal Wulff for the dry-fly water, ants and beetles for the terrestrial window, and a light Hare's Ear or Prince Nymph underneath for the deeper pockets.
A check, not a destination
Conditions
- Navigability: wade-only water (median width ~5.9 m, narrow; gradient ~3.33%, moderate; peak mean-annual discharge ~0.449 m³/s, very low flow), consistent with a small, moderate-energy headwater-to-mid tributary rather than anything to float.
- Stocking: no stocking record. It runs entirely on wild fish.
Access and the rules
No named road, trailhead or parking area is confirmed for McDermid Creek. Treat it as walk-in water off the Sand Creek drainage road network in the Bull River watershed, and confirm current legal access before heading in.
