This Kootenai River Montana fishing report is being brought to you by Orvis Endorsed Linehan Outfitting. This report will be updated weekly to provide current conditions, weather, hatches, patterns, and flows to our local waters and across the state.
In-flow from Lake Koocanusa: approximately 6700cfs
Flows from Libby Dam: Present discharge is 6700 cfs and the Kootenai is still in good shape and fishing pretty well. But, the big change is coming. Discharge at Libby Dam will increase Tuesday and Wednesday to commence the Kootenai River white sturgeon ecological flow augmentation operation. Flows will remain @ 20,000 cubic feet per second (cfs; full powerhouse discharge is ~25,000 cfs) for ~ 18 days
Hatches: midge, baetis, March browns, little stoneflies
Water temperature at stilling basin below Libby Dam: approximately 40 degrees
patterns: zebra midge, Uke’s brown perdigon, wire worm, perdigons, smaller streamers in tan, black and red, midge cluster, parachute Adams, March brown sparkle dun, olive sparkle dun, olive hackle stacker, Pat’s stonefly, flashback pheasant tail nymph,
If you’re going to get out this weekend make it count. At the moment the Kootenai is in great shape and will fish pretty well through Monday. As mentioned above, on Tuesday flows will increase to maximum discharge until flows are decreased toward the end of June. With high flows the Kootenai becomes exclusively is a float fishery.
Water temps are still chilly so there’s no need to hit the water early. Most of the action is from 10:00 am to about 5:00 pm.
Nymphing is very productive at the moment. Pat’s rubber legged stoneflies in coffee color and size 16 or 18 mayfly beadheads will get the job done. Five to six feet to the first fly with at least a BB is best bet for rigs during high flows.
