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

Kootenai River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

Linehan Outfitting's Tip of the Week

It's time to fish longer leaders. Ten foot 5x is standard leader rig now that flows are 4000cfs and water is absolutely gin clear. And droppers are very much in play now as well.

Directions open in app

Map of Kootenai River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Linehan Outfitting Company

5-Day Outlook as of 10/11/25

Expect rain and snow showers through the weekend with daytime temps in the 40-50s. Baetis should start to pop here and there throughout the week as well.

Techniques & Tips as of 10/11/25

Big bugs and droppers or a single #16 parachute Adams or purple haze on 5x tippet. Streamers will move bigger fish this time of year.

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):
Skilton Quick Sight Ant black 16
Schroeder's Hi-Vis Hopper tan 12
Sparkle Dun pmd 14
Royal Wulff standard 14
chubbies purple 12
pats rubber legged black 18
TH Duracell Jig standard 14,16,18
Tunghead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail standard 16
big bunny streamers white, red, black 6
white circus peanut white 6

Skilton Quick Sight Ant

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Item #0128

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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:

baetis, midge, nocturnal stoneflies, ants, hoppers

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.