Discharge from Libby Dam will be 6500 cfs. Low flows are the name of the game for rest of the week. Lots of wading available up and down the river. Nymphing should be very effective with lower flows. Water temps are still chilly and so is the weather. But good conditions prevail so give it a shot.
Monthly Archives: March 2011
Montana Fishing Report
Discharge from Libby Dam will average 18,000 cfs for most of the week. Best opportunities will be from the boat at these flows.
Montana Fishing Report: Kootenai River
Current discharge from Libby dam is 17,000 cfs. Daytime temps will approach forty degrees and it’s another gray day. Winds are variable and mostly light. Hatches are slim so stick with the nymphing game. Today, better opportunities from the boat.
Montana Fly Fishing: March Brown Mayflies
On many Montana rivers it’s time to start looking for one of the season’s first mayfly hatches. March browns, technically Rithrogenas, are common across the state. As water temps start warming into the middle forties these size 14 mayflies start to become active and can provide some of the best early season dry fly fishing. There are many good patterns to represent this bug and a Parachute Adams or purple haze more often than not fit the bill perfectly.
Montana Non-Resident Hunting License Deadline
For those of you planning on hunting here in Montana this season keep in mind the non-resident license application is tomorrow MARCH 15th. All information can be found on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website http://fwp.mt.gov and applications can be filed very quickly on-line. If you plan to print the application and send via snail mail, be sure to have package postmarked by the 15th. There are no exceptions to the date. Results of the license drawing are usually posted by around mid-April. If there is a surplus of licenses, licenses are sold on a first come, first serve basis.
Montana Fishing Report: Kootenai River
Libby Dam is currently discharging 17,000 cfs into the Kootenai River making today a much better drift boat experience. There is still some wading to be had along some of the rockier banks but all in all flows above 15,000 generally mean get in the boat. Daytime temps will once again hover in the high thirties. Light precipitation is expected and winds will be variable from the west. It’s gray and overcast, a bit chilly to that end, but at least it seems we’ve moved out of the twenty below zone. Nymphing has been effective and fish and if you can always pound away with streamers to find a bigger fish as well.
Montana Fishing Report: Kootenai River
The mighty Kootenai is in great shape at the moment although it still feels like winter up here. Present discharge from Libby Dam is 16,300cfs. Present flows will allow for some wading but are more suited for drift boat trips. Daytime temps will be around mid thirties. Water temp in the stilling basin below Libby Dam is approximately 40 degrees. Winds are light and once again it’s overcast and chilly.
Montana Fishing Report: Kootenai River
Present discharge from Libby Dam is 16,300 cfs. Winds are light and it appears it’s going to be partly sunny today. All in all good conditions and the river is also in fine shape. Daytime temps will be in the high thirties, maybe even forty. Water temp is about 40 degrees in the stilling basin below the dam. It’s still pretty much a nymphing game.
Montana Fishing Report: Kootenai River
Dishcharge from Libby Dam is currently 12,800 cfs which is a great flow for wading and float fishing. Daytime temps have warmed up a bit and are hovering around the middle thirties. Still lots of moisture coming down and could be either rain or snow depending on the hour. But at least we’ve moved out of the sub-zero temps so there’s fishing to be had. Winds are variable depending on conditions.