KOOTENAI RIVER MONTANA FISHING REPORT 7-16-2024
This Kootenai River Montana fishing report is being brought to you by Orvis Endorsed Linehan Outfitting. This report will be updated weekly to provide current conditions, weather, hatches, patterns, and flows to our local waters and across the state.
Flows from Libby Dam: 13,000cfs.
Hatches: midge, pmds, caddis
In-flow from Lake Koocanusa: approximately 15,000cfs
Water temperature at stilling basin below Libby Dam: approximately 54 degrees
patterns: zebra midge, parachute Adams, big junk like dungeons, circus peanuts in white, red and black, bh soft hackle pheasant tail, Pat's rubber legged stonefly, bh purple duracell perdigon, Uke's brown bug perdigon, xcaddis, parchute adams, parachute pmd, missing link pmd, royal wulff, bh prince, pmd frenchie, caddis pupas, purple haze, bronze haze, Bloom's caddis.
The Kootenai River is in great shape and the season of now in full swing. Discharge from Libby Dam was recently increased to 13,000cfs and will remain steady through end of July. This flow is the sweet spot. There's good current along most banks, riffles are expanded with more water, drop offs and buckets are just the right size, and it's good for floating and it also offers perfectly good wading opportunities as well.
Turns out the headwaters of the Kootenai River in Canada got a bunch of snow and moisture in May and early June. The Army Corps of Engineers/Libby Dam biologist Greg H. did an extraordiary job of managing water. At this point Lake Koocanusa reservoir above the Libby Dam is full and so is the Kootenai River. It's in great shape and will be in great shape all season.
The water may be cold but the daytime temps are hot. It's bright and sunny out there too. Daytime temps are consistently in the high 90s and it looks like they may go above 100 toward the end of the week. Be safe. Cover up and wear sunscreen. Take a swim. Stick your wrists in the water and that will cool you down as well. Big straw hats are now being seen up and down the Kootenai River.
With bright sunshine and hot temperatures we are still having to nymph from time to time. Trout are now occupying riffles and fast water. Short leashing has been productive in water depths of 2-3 feet. Otherwise, if you're on the run and fishing deeper water, Indicator should be set approximately 5-6 feet from top fly. Depending on water depth, you may want to add a split shot.
Dry fly action is presently concentrated to mornings and late evenings. If pmds and caddis are popping, fish should be looking up. Purple haze or an X-caddis will do the trick for the most part. Look for rising fish, give them a good drift, and they should eat. Also, chubbies and droppers have been effective in specific water types.
Right now, big fish are on the prowl and looking for a big meal. Depth Charge sinking tips are perfectly good and stick with soft runs three to ten feet deep. The streamer bite has been a day by day thing. Cloud cover will help. Don't expect numbers and if you get a couple or a few you've done well
The Boston Red Sox are 3.5 games out of first place in the AL East three players are heading to the All Star Game (Rafael Devers, Jared Duran, and Tanner Houck). They have been on a tear the last couple weeks and this team has talent and is fun to watch. Since May 19 the Sox have the best win-loss record of any ALS team! At the moment pitchers are holding their own and lately the bats have been terrific. Go Sox!
Give a call anytime if you need more Kootenai River details or information on any 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. The new Orvis Helios rods are here and you have to cast one to believe! https://linehan-outfitting.myshopify.com/
