Staples Creek is a small tributary of Perry Creek in the Lower St. Mary River drainage, southeast of Cranbrook. Local survey data shows nine direct fish records here, brook trout, westslope cutthroat and sculpin, presence evidence rather than a fishery rating, so it reads today as sensitive scout water under the Perry Creek Classified Water rule set.
The water
NRCan lists Staples Creek as an official Kootenay Land District name (key JAMDN), with its confirmed point at 49.5625, -115.9539. It drains into Perry Creek, which in turn reaches the St. Mary River downstream. It runs stream order 2 (a headwater-scale side water, on a scale that runs from 1 for a headwater trickle up to 6 or more for a full river), consistent with a small, brushy tributary rather than a size worth measuring for drift.
The fishing
Provincial fish-inventory data logs nine direct records: three brook trout, three westslope cutthroat, two general Sculpin and one unidentified fish. Treat these as presence records, not catch rates or abundance estimates. It shares the food base of the wider Perry Creek system: stonefly nymphs, Mayflies, Caddisflies (Sedges), midges, summer Terrestrials (Hoppers, Ants, Beetles) (beetles, ants, hoppers), fry and small Sculpin.
Where it's legal to fish and away from spawning fish, the same box that works the rest of Perry Creek applies: a Stimulator, Royal Wulff, Adams and PMX on top, an Elk Hair Caddis through the summer caddis, and Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph, Copper John and a small Pat's Rubber Legs underneath.
Native cutthroat under real pressure
No Staples-specific guide coverage has surfaced. St. Mary Angler guides the broader St. Mary River system, and Three Bars Ranch works with St. Mary Angler in the Wycliffe / Perry Creek corridor; treat both as parent-water context rather than evidence that Staples Creek itself is worth a dedicated trip.
Access and the rules
No public access point, trailhead or put-in has been confirmed for Staples Creek. Confirm legal access and land tenure before planning a day here.
Before you fish
Conditions
- Navigability: Staples Creek itself has no channel-width, gradient or discharge survey on record. Treat it as small, wadeable water consistent with its stream-order-2 headwater scale until a direct measurement or field report says otherwise.
- Stocking: no stocking record for Staples Creek.
