Grab your gear and maybe a rain jacket, because the local waters are officially waking up from their winter nap—mostly. Chancy’s Fish Camp reports that if you’re feeling fancy, Koocanusa is the current MVP for rainbows and bulls, while Flathead Lake is staying busy with a “choose your own adventure” feel: hit the north end mud lines for the big guys or head to the bays to fill a bucket with perch. Swan Lake is rewarding the patient anglers with some lake trout near the river mouth, though the pike are currently demanding a literal “dead bait” delivery service down south.

The Breakdown

• The Early Birds: Rodgers and Loon are flirting with fly fishers (small wet flies and balanced leeches), while Echo is finally seeing the bass wake up in the 12-15′ depths.
• The Deep Dive: If you have the electronics for it, McGregor is producing lake trout in the 50-70′ range—perfect for those who enjoy the “jig till your arm drops” method.
• The Muddy Mess: Maybe give Lake Mary Ronan and the Bitterroot a pass for now, as they’re currently looking pretty “chocolate milk”-like.
• The River Situation: Most are running high and rowdy, though the Thompson is staying just barely fishable if you’re feeling brave.

Essentially, the fish are there, but some are still hitting the snooze button. Stick to the reservoirs or the deeper bays if you actually want something to brag about at dinner.

Check out the full Chancy’s Fish Camp fishing report as of March 24, 2026 here.