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

Kootenai River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

45

Linehan Outfitting's Tip of the Week

With flows now down to 4000 cfs the Kootenai is very fishable. That said, water temps are very cold. Stick with subsurface techniques and get flies down.

Directions open in app

Map of Kootenai River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Linehan Outfitting Company

5-Day Outlook as of 1/28/26

Expect mostly cloudy skies and daytime temps in the 30s through mid-week. No major storms in the forestcast for now.

Techniques & Tips as of 1/28/26

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):
Mini Drunk and Disorderly white 8
Conehead Rubber Bugger black 6
Double Bunny white 6
Bead Head Crystal Soft Hackle standard 14
tunghead prince nymphs natural 12
pats rubber legged black 18
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig standard 14,16,18
Tunghead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail standard 16
big bunny streamers white, red, black 6
white circus peanut white 6

Mini Drunk and Disorderly

This streamer fly is the perfect wounded baitfish imitation.

8.99

Item #18RF

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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

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.