High sunshine and temps in the 80′s for today.  It’s summer time!  Caddis should be active through the morning and again in the evening but mid-day action might be centered around deepwater nymphing as fish hide from the heat and sun.  Discharge from Libby Dam is steady and 14,000cfs and the river is in perfect shape.  Look for fish in faster runs and riffles for the most part.  Hoppers are starting to turn fish as well. 

Kootenai River Rainbow

High sunshine again and temps in the 80′s for today.  Discharge from Libby Dam is still 14,000cfs and steady.  The Kootenai is in great shape.  Summer conditions have certainly made dry fly fishing a big slower in the mid-afternoons.  In the mornings and evenings the dry fly action on caddis and attractors is still consistent.  Dries and droppers are fishing well with caddis and pmd patterns covering all bases.  It’s still a bit early but the guides are anxious to fish big bugs and hopper patterns are indeed moving a few fish throughout the day.  Kootenai tributaries are also in great shape and still holding good water.

Kootenai River tributary/native redband rainbow trout

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It’s going to be another summer day here in Kootenai Country.  The forecast is for high sunshine and temps in the 80′s with a  light breeze in the afternoon.  Discharge from Libby Dam is steady at 14,000cfs.  The river is in great shape and caddis and pmds still have fish looking up making dry fly action pretty consistent.  Look for caddis action down long, grassy banks and pmds in the late afternoon and evenings.  Attractor patterns like wulffs and trudes are moving fish and nyphing in deeper runs is still very effective.  Local tributaries are still carrying great water and are really fun, full of fish, and still in great shape.

Kootenai tributary

Yesterday discharge from Libby Dam was raised from 11,000cfs to 14,000cfs.    The Corps of Engineers needs to move a bit more water in order to achieve necessary reservoir re-fill and elevation.  While the water came up, the fish went down.  For a few hours the caddis sort of went away but by evening the switch was back on, bugs were bouncing, and fish were eating again.  Today we’re expecting partly sunny skies, a light breeze, and highs in the 70′s.  Another perfect fishing day in Kootenai Country.  Caddis were slamming the windshield on the way home and are presently very active.  Look for hatches and feeding fish in faster runs and concentrate on 2-4 feet of water especially down grassy banks in boulder gardens.  Pmds are popping in good numbers during the evening and fish are responding to them too.  Many dry caddis patterns are effective including parachute, peacock, Goddard, x-caddis as well as emergers all in sizes 14,16.  Dry pmd patterns turning fish include parachute, sparkle dun, and quiqley emergers.  The entire river is in excellent shape from top to bottom.

Kootenai River Westlope Cutt

A few showers rolled through this morning but it’s looking like a great pmd day at this point.  No wind, partly cloudy, warming into the 70′s…likely another day of dry fly action.  Flows from Libby Dam are steady at 11000cfs which is perfect.  Caddis are active throughout the day especially in quicker currents.  Green drakes are also still sputtering along in specific areas.  All in all conditions are great and the Kootenai is fishing well.  For those of you who feel like nymphing, go for it.  Stick with caddis or pmd patterns, look for fish in 2-4 feet of water and don’t be afraid to let the bugs swing at the end the drift.  Lots of grabs as the flies rise through the water column.  Dries and droppers are the ticket.  Caddis dry with caddis pupa for dropper or a royal wulff with pmd emerger or dry caddis and dry pmd.  It’s all working at the moment.  Local tributaries are also on fire and fishing well.  Lakes, ponds, and stillwaters staying nice and cool and giving up fish too.  GREAT CONDITIONS AND FISHING HERE IN KOOTENAI COUNTRY.

Kootenai River Montana

Dry fly bonanza happening here on the Kootenai.  Flows from Libby Dam are steady at 11000cfs, fish are settling into summer lies, faster water and riffles and the bugs are hatching.  Caddis are really active throughout the day in faster water and fish are stacked in some areas.  Yesterday’s rig du jour was a #14 Goddard caddis with a supa pupa dropper.  From the minute boats left the ramps folks were into fish and the action was steady.  Some nicer fish showing up what with increased bug activity and stable weather.  Pmds also steady and still a smattering of green drakes.  Don’t over look a big royal wulff with a #16 pheasant tail soft hackle for a dropper.  Always a good rig when drakes and pmds are active.  Warm weather predicted through tomorrow with summer conditions.  Dry fly action was great throughout the day even with high sun but there’s always a happy hour right before dark if you can last that long.  THE KOOTENAI IS ON FIRE AND CADDIS ARE HEADLINING THE DRY FLY ACTION.

Bernie B/Kootenai Rainbow

It’s a summer day here in Kootenai country and the front has passed.  Winds are calm, it’s sunny, and we’re expecting highs in the 80′s this afternoon.  The Kootenai and tributaries are in most excellent shape, and dude…where’s my car?  Discharge from Libby Dam is steady at 11,000cfs.  It’s prime time, baby.  With high sunshine today look for best dry fly fishing throught evening and especially during happy hour right before dark.  Nymphing with smaller bugs should move fish during the day and keep in mind fish are starting to settle into summer lies so look for action in faster water and riffles. 

Kootenai River Rainbow

The river lit up yesterday with all boats and guides reporting stellar pmd and caddis hatches and rising fish from morning to night.  It’s gray and calm again today so we’re expecting pretty much the same kind of conditions today.  Flows are still steady at 11,000cfs and there’s lots of wading.  The Kootenai is in excellent shape and on fire at the moment.  Goddard caddis, x-caddis, supa pupas all getting aggressive strikes.  Pmd dries, rabbit’s foot emergers, parachute adams all covering the pmd scene.  Rig du jour: #14 Goddard caddis with a #16 dry pmd as a dropper.  Double down dry.  It doesn’t get any better than that!!!  THE KOOTENAI AND TRIBUTARIES ARE ON FIRE AND ARE PRESENTLY FISHING WELL!!!

Clackacraft Rules

Cool, calm and collected here this morning.  Thunderstorms did indeed move into the area last night but not before all guides and guests reported a great day of fishing.  The Kootenai lit up with caddis from morning to evening and the fish were on top throughout the entire day.  Flows from Libby Dam are still 11,000cfs and the Kootenai is in perfect shape.  Pmds were also popping in specifiic areas and the rig du jour was a #14 Goddard followed by a pmd rabbits foot emerger.  Cooler temps today might bring a change but that remains to be seen.  Cloud cover will help but may put caddis hatch off a bit.  Kootenai tributaries are also in stellar shape and fishing very well as well as local lakes and ponds.  KOOTENAI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES ARE FISHING VERY WELL!!!  SEND US YOUR PHOTOS.

Green Drake Mayfly

Summer weather over the last couple days has really bumped caddis activity.  Presently it’s sunny, beautiful and calm.  But later today there’s a chance of thunderstorms moving in so be prepared if you’re out there.   Good hatches are being seen during the day and heavy swarms late in the evening making for some great dry fly action.  Pmds are also steady and providing some great sight casting to rising fish.  Kootenai flows are 11,000cfs and the river is in perfect shape.  Some bigger fish are finally starting to show up on top as well.  Nymphing is very productive during the heat of the day and big bugs like Pat’s stoneflies fished with #14 pheasant tail has been the staple.  Local tributaries are hot and in super-duper shape as well.  Good hatches of pmds, green drakes and golden stones are offering terrific dry fly action.  Get out the three weights and get into a small stream!  ALL SYSTEMS GO HERE IN KOOTENAI COUNTRY!!!

Kootenai River Tributary

caddis fly