Montana Fishing Reports ยท Northwest Region
Below Libby Dam, the Kootenai is a big tailwater in the northwest corner of Montana, with large rainbows and good dry-fly fishing in summer.
Looking for the latest Kootenai River, Montana river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Kootenai River โ Below Libby Dam.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Kootenai River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge below Libby Dam reads around 4,200 cfs, clear and cold.
Nymph the deeper seams with midges and small mayflies, and try a streamer for the bigger rainbows.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Below Libby Dam, bring: Zebra Midge #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Woolly Bugger #4-8, Parachute Adams #16-20, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Kootenai River details
| Access | Fishing access sites along State Highway 37 between Libby Dam and Libby. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 2,100 ft |
| Nearest town | Libby, Montana |
| Best season | Spring through fall |
| Fish | Rainbow trout, plus bull trout and whitefish |
| Regulations | Bull trout must be released. Check Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations for the current rules. A Montana fishing license is required for anglers 12 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Camping | Kootenai National Forest campgrounds near the dam |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | Flows change with dam operations. Watch the water level. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold.
Spring
Rising releases.
Summer
Caddis and mayflies.
Fall
Big rainbows and streamers.
How to get there
From Kalispell, take US-2 west to Libby, then State Highway 37 north toward Libby Dam.