Hoppers and droppers continue to be the rig of choice.  With high sun and hot days fish have definitley become a bit more tight lipped as of late from a dry fly point of view.  Nymphing continues to move fish in faster runs and riffles so be don’t be afraid to bust out the bobbers!  Guides have also noticed fish become a bit more boat shy what with gin clear water and high sun so lengthen leaders and consider 6x in the slicks and glassy runs.  5x still working just fine through faster water and riffles. 

Current discharge from Libby Dam is currently 7000cfs and water temp below Libby Dam is now 55 degrees.  Yesterday the fish were happy up and down the river and all guests and guides had a great day!  Caddis were popping on the upper river for most of the afternoon and crane flies were bouncing around as well.  Tan parachute hoppers covered the crane flies and fished with a caddis pupa dropper it made the day pretty consistent.  With heat on the way and daytime temps predicted to hit the mid-90′s for the next few days it will be wise to get on the water early in the morning for the best dry fly action and again for the last couple hours of the day.  Get the bobbers out for afternoon fishing and get the nymphs down to bottom.

Dishcharge from Libby Dam is currently 7000cfs and river temps are averaging in the middle 50′s.  Daytime temps are currently in the high 70′s, there’s basically no wind, and high cumulus clouds are keeping the sun at bay throughout the day.  What could be better!  Dry fly fishing is finally pretty consistent with fish eating caddis and mayfly patterns with regularity.  Bigger fish are starting to show up too!  And several 16-20″ fish were caught by clients in the last couple days.  Look for fish in fast water as they seem to have settled into their summer holding pattern for now.  Must have flies are parachute adams in size 16, elk hair caddis size 16, royal wulff size 12 and definitely big bugs and droppers through boulder gardens in the afternoons.

Discharge from Libby Dam is now stable and will remain at 7000cfs for through August.  Summer flows are here to stay and with recent sunshine water temps are finally approaching mid 50′s.  Caddis and pmd’s are hatching and good dry fly action is centered around mornings and evenings.  With high pressure and big sun afternoons are all about deep water nymphing.  It’s still early enough in the season to give them the burger.  Fish them big and fish them deep.  Big prince nymphs, rubber legs and hare’s ears with smaller droppers fished below seven to nine feet of indicators in fast water has been moving some nicer fish.  Hoppers and droppers through the day are also moving fish.  If you’re drifting, cover water and miles and stick with 2-4 feet of water.  During the afternoons fish are unlikely to be on the bank with bright sun and warmer day time temps.

Two days of unrelenting wind and a serious change of pressure made things a bit tough on the guides and guests.  But today things came around a bit and all boats saw a bit of dry fly action as well as some bigger fish on nymphs.  Caddis are starting to pop and pmd’s are finally starting to show up as well.  Water temps are still a bit cool in the lower 50′s and we’re just waiting for come consistent warm weather to heat things up.  We’re headed for a nice change of weather and summer is suppossed to return.  Get ready for hot summer action this week as hatches really start to fly.

Buckle up for safety, buckle up for summer fun.  Hot yesterday and hot today but water temps are responding and that means caddis are too.  Stick with nymphs in faster water as it seems fish are in the summer holding lies already.  But in the evenings, oh the evenings, the wonderful, delightful evenings, IT’S CADDIS THIRTY!!!  Look for pmd’s lately as well and attractors are still finding fish consistently.  Bigger fish seem to be showing up at last.  High water is over and Kootenai flowing steady through September.

Warmer weather has finally arrived and it feels like summer.  Dry fly action is really turning on and fish are becoming more active.  Last night all boats and guides experienced a great happy hour with caddis finally busting in good numbers and fish slashing for them on the surface.  Size 16 caddis patterns were the ticket.  Big dries with droppers about three feet down and indicator nymphing is still pretty much the name of the game during mid-day sun.  Don’t be afraid to pull a big bunny if you’re looking for size.  It’s still early in the season and fish are aggressive.

Discharge from Libby Dam is currently 9000cfs making the entire river fishable.  Great access at these flows from either a boat or wading.  Water temps are still a bit on the chilly side and hovering around 49 degrees.  Pmd’s have started hatching in good numbers late in the afternoon but fish are still tight and not neccessarily looking up.  Nymphing is bringing most of the action and standard stuff like pheasant tails, pmd emergers, micro mayflies fished below bigger bugs like princes and hares are moving fish.  Great dry fly action is literally going to happen any day.  We’re headed for warmer days and once water temps ooch into the 50′s it will be game on.  But all in all the Kootenai is on super shape and open for business!!!

Back to cooler temps and rain again today.  But even though some of you are ready for steady summer weather, the guides couldn’t be happier.  The Kootenai continues to drop and is fishing well.  Conditions are perfect and will only get better from here.  Tonight flows from Libby Dam will drop to 12,000 cfs.  Caddis should start to pop but for now stick with attractors and if you really want to put up some numbers, bead head nymphs with an indicator about four five feet deep with move lots of fish.  Kootenai tributaries are also in that sweet spot!