Flows from Libby Dam: 4000 cfs

In-flows from Lake Koocanusa:  approximately 2000 cfs

Water temperature at Libby Dam: 38 degrees

Hatches: midge, baetis, March browns

patterns:  zebra midge, parachute Adams,  soft SJ worm, bh pheasant tail, bh rubber legged stonefly, big streamers in white, pink and olive, circus peanut, black conehead buggers, perdigons, Uke's Pressure Drop, midge cluster, Griffith's gnat, parachute Adams, BWO hackle stacker, Rosenbauer's rabbit foot bwo emerger, parachute bwo

Well, we've gone from a lengthy, cold, dark spring straight to summer.  A couple days ago daytime temperatures shot up into the 80s and runoff and snowmelt shot up too.  The Kootenai is now very off color and I'm guessing it will be a few weeks before tributaries settle down.  Additionally, any day flows from LIbby Dam will also increase so the Kootenai River is most likley not fishable for a while.  What's a while?  I'm guessing it will be consistently fishable again sometime around the middle of June.

If water conditions and visibility improve enough from time to time  stick with nymphing and streamers.  And did I mention streamers?  This time of year big fish are on the prowl and looking for a big, easy meal.  Get out the sink tips and start swinging the big stuff.  Keep it low and slow and keep in mind fish don't want to move very far or very fast when the water is cold.  This time of year look for fish in pools, deep runs, softer currents, and around structure. 

In other news, the Kootenai River basin received good snowpack this winter and we're having a lengthy and cooler than normal spring.  That means the snowpack will hang in there for a while.  The Kootenai River basin is currently sitting at approximately 80% snowpack (water equivalency).  This means we're already expecting good water conditions for the fishing season.

I also wanted to extend an invitation to all you reading this to join us for a spring trip.  During May and first two weeks of June the Linehan Outfitting crew heads over to the Missouri River.  This is a great early trip and the Missouri is a terrific fishery.  We have one boat available June 1,2,3 and this is a prime slot!

In Boston Red Sox news,  the Sox are going to be surprisingly competitive and are actually looking pretty good.  The offense and defense has been solid so far this season with help from Kike Hernandez, Verdugo, Devers.  It's still wicked early in the season but sure is good to have baseball especially with the new rules to make the game move along more quickly.  GO SOX!

Give a call anytime if you need more Kootenai River details or information on any of our hunting or fishing adventures.  And please check out our e-commerce site for all Linehan Outfitting branded soft wear and hats and all Orvis gear as well. https//linehan-outfitting.myshopify.com