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

Kootenai River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

40

Linehan Outfitting's Tip of the Week

If you see a few bugs, get the dry fly stick out and start head hunting.

Directions open in app

Map of Kootenai River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Linehan Outfitting Company

5-Day Outlook as of 4/14/25

Looks like another lovely week is headed our way. Expect mostly sunny skies, light breeze, and daytime temps in the 50-60s.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/14/25

Nymphing and pulling streamers are best bets through the early part of day. Dry fly action generally begins late afternoon and last for a couple hours.

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

  • Fish Icon

    rainbow

  • Fish Icon

    westlope cutthroat

  • Fish Icon

    bull trout

  • Fish Icon

    mountain whitefish

Linehan Outfitting's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Adam's Purple Parachute standard 16
Tunghead Pheasant Tail standard 14
Sparkle Dun olive 18
Royal Wulff standard 14
chubbies purple 12
buzz ball 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

Adam's Purple Parachute

Tie on this deadly purple parachute dry fly to show trout something unique.

2.49

Item #7R6K

Buy Now

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, March browns, caddis

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.