KOOTENAI RIVER MONTANA FISHING REPORT JUNE 16, 2026
Kootenai River Montana Spring Rainbow
In-flow from Lake Koocanusa: not available at this time
Flows from Libby Dam: 20,000 cfs
Current changes and highlights:
The following outflow changes are scheduled for Thursday, June 18th:
-Outflows will decrease from 20.0 kcfs to 17.5 kcfs at 0000 MDT.
The following outflow changes are scheduled for Tuesday, June 23rd:
-Outflows will decrease from 17.5 kcfs to 15.0 kcfs at 0000 MDT.
The following outflow changes are scheduled for Tuesday, May 26th :
-Outflows will increase from 20.0 kcfs to 25.0 kcfs at 0000 MDT.
Hatches: midge, baetis, March browns, caddis
Water temperature at stilling basin below Libby Dam: approximately 40 degrees
patterns: zebra midge, Uke's brown perdigon, wire worm, perdigons, smaller sparkle minnows, midge cluster, Pat's stonefly, flashback pheasant tail nymph, hare's ears, prince nymphs, circus peanuts, drunk and disorderlies, parachute Adams, purple haze, baetis sparkle dun, x-caddis, Bloom’s caddis
Flows from Libby Dam will be decreasing this week to coincide with completion of the sturgeon spawning pulse. This means the official summer season is on the way.
Presently the Kootenai is clear and fishable. Wading is minimal at higher flows but boat fishing is perfectly good as flows start to ramp down under 20,000cfs.
Expect partly sunny days with temperatures in the and 60s-70s through most of the week.
Depending on the day and stretch, there is some dry fly action. Expect to find rising fish in softer water and off current areas if bugs are around.This time of year rising fish are pretty user friendly. Get a good drift and they’ll likely crush your fly. Most of the bug activity will be later in the day.
Nyphing is very productive right now as fish are eager to eat after a long winter.
Be sure to look for fish in softer water. It’s still early in the season and trout are lethargic this time of year and will not move very far to feed. Additionally, they will be in off current areas, around cover, and especially in soft runs with depths of 5 plus feet of water. Any of the nymph patterns listed above will move fish and rigs with indicators set about five to six feet from the top fly will cover most water. One or two BB split shot should do the trick. Coffee colored Pat’s stonefly with a perdigon is always a good bet.
If you have a hankering, streamer fishing is best bet if you're looking for one solid fish. Depending on flows, be sure to get the fly down. Fish it slowly and thump and pulse like it's a wounded minnow. If you get a pull, stop it. Let it sink. Then pulse it again. While not as productive as nymphing throughout the day, pulling junk will move a nicer fish or two. This is the time of year when bigger fish will be bulking up. Stick with it. You'll get a nice one.
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