Fishing Season: Year Round (Prime: June 1 - October 31)

Kootenai River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

55

Linehan Outfitting's Tip of the Week

Dry fly action is happening. Look for fish in fast runs and riffles now as they move into traditional summer holding and feeding areas.

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Map of Kootenai River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Linehan Outfitting Company

5-Day Outlook as of 8/28/26

Expect mostly sunny skies for the foreseeable future with daytime temps in the 80s. No smoke anymore to speak of. Libby Dam will be decreasing flows for the fall. See below. The following outflow changes will occur on 1 September 2026: -Outflows will decrease from 9.0 kcfs to 8.5 kcfs at 0000 MDT. -Outflows will decrease from 8.5 kcfs to 8.0 kcfs at 0100 MDT. The following outflow changes will occur on 2 September 2026: -Outflows will decrease from 8.0 kcfs to 7.5 kcfs at 0000 MDT. -Outflows will decrease from 7.5 kcfs to 7.0 kcfs at 0100 MDT. The following outflow changes will occur on 3 September 2026: -Outflows will decrease from 7.0 kcfs to 6.5 kcfs at 0000 MDT.

Techniques & Tips as of 8/28/26

Big bugs and droppers are still very much in play. No need for anything except a single dry if that's your preference. However, streamers are moving some big fish lately.

Local Species Available Year Round (Prime: June 1 - October 31)

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    rainbow

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    westlope cutthroat

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    bull trout

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    mountain whitefish

Linehan Outfitting's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Sparkle Dun pmd 14
Elk Wing Caddis tan 16
Adam’s Purple Parachute purple 12
Bead Head Crystal Soft Hackle standard 14
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig standard 14,16,18
Tunghead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail standard 16
tunghead prince nymphs natural 12
pats rubber legged black 10
big bunny streamers white, red, black 6
white circus peanut white 6

Sparkle Dun

A go-to trout dry fly that imitates many natural mayflies, the Sparkle Dun belongs in every fly box.

3.99

Item #749F

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Linehan Outfitting's Recommended Gear

Description: About Kootenai River

Linehan Outfitting Company and the Kootenai River are located in the far Northwest corner of Montana. The Kootenai River runs through the towns of Libby and Troy before heading into Idaho where it turns north and flows back into Canada. This is not typical big sky country. Instead this is a place where the Pacific rainforest ecosystem crashes into the spine of the northern Rockies. It's a place still off the beaten path and a place where you can stand in a riffle at dark and have the whole place to yourself. The Kootenai is a big tailwater fishery and below Libby Dam we have about thirty miles of fishable water. Rainbows averaging 12"-16" on dry flies are pretty much the name of the game here throughout the season as well as the possibility of a huge bull trout if you feel like throwing bugs bunny all day. The Kootenai is big and broad and most efficiently fished from a drift boat in classic float/wade style and access to mid-stream islands and riffles provides easy wading in prime locations.

Nearest Airport:

Missoula, MT, Kalispell, MT, or Spokane, WA

Hatches:

midge, pmds, caddis, hoppers, ants

Best Time to Fish:

During daylight hours

Best Stretch:

The entire river is good shape and all stretches are fishing well.

Best Access:

All access points and launches are in great shape.