Except for two sections, floating the Kootenai River is not difficult, and offers a pleasant float. The scenery is nice and the current is fast, especially during high water. Prime floating conditions occur with river flows between 8000-12,000cfs.
Table of Contents
Is the Kootenai River good for fishing?
Beautiful scenery, great fishing! The Kootenai River begins in British Columbia and flows through northwest Montana and Libby. “It is one of the west’s premier dry fly trout rivers,” says Libby fly-fishing guide and river expert, Dave Blackburn who owns and operates Kootenai Angler.
What kind of fish are in the Kootenai River?
Anglers can find rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout, brook trout and mountain whitefish. About 20 miles east into Montana is the Kootenai Falls, one of the largest undammed waterfalls in the Northwest.
Where is the best fly fishing in Idaho?
- The Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
- The Henry’s Fork of the Snake River.
- The South Fork of the Boise River.
What flies to use on Big Thompson?
- Midges: (Dries) #18 Old Town Midge, #18 Highlander Midge and #18 Mullet Midge.
- Blue Winged Olives: (Dries) #18 BWO Cripple, #18 2nd Chance and #18 PEC.
- Caddis: (Dries) #14 EC Caddis, #14 Caddis Grey.
- Stoneflies: (Dries) #12 Instigator.
How fast does the Kootenai River flow?
The river has an average gradient of 0.6 m/km, and velocities higher than 0.8 m/s. The third reach (Meander) extends from just below the town of Bonners Ferry to the confluence of the Kootenay Lake (82.5 km).
Where can I find burbot in Idaho?
In Idaho, burbot are only found in the Kootenai River, where a successful conservation effort recently led to Fish and Game opening a fishery there for the first time in almost 30 years.
What is Bonners Ferry known for?
Located in the heart of the Kootenai River Valley, the town of Bonners Ferry serves as a picturesque international gateway to Idaho and hosts visitors from around the world. Surrounded by three mountain ranges, abundant outdoor recreation is just steps away.
Does Kokanee salmon go to Ocean?
Kokanee are land-locked sockeye salmon. This means that they do not travel to the ocean and return inland to spawn, instead they complete their entire life cycle in Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Is it legal to fish for bull trout in Idaho?
The Bull Trout is now a fully protected species and is listed as threatened by the Endangered Species Act. In Idaho, fishing for them is strictly catch-and-release, no harvest of them is allowed.
Does Idaho have good trout fishing?
The same can be said of the nearby Henrys Fork, world-renowned for its challenging dry fly wade fishing for big rainbow trout. Located in the heart of the Northern Rockies, Idaho is chock full of high-quality trout streams, hundreds of miles of them.
When can I fly fish in Idaho?
Depending on the location you choose to visit, fall may actually be the best time of year for fly fishing. The hatches will vary depending on what region of the state you are visiting, but as a generally rule you’ll find the most occurring the months of June, July, and August.
Is the Big Thompson stocked?
No stocking has occurred in the Big T since the 90’s. Below the Waltonia Bridge, the river eventually runs through the town of Drake, where it is joined by the North Fork of the Big Thompson.
What caused the Big Thompson flood in 1976?
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 12 inches of rainfall in just a matter of hours caused a major flood in the Big Thompson River on July 31, 1976.
Is the Big Thompson catch and release?
Big Thompson River Fishing Regulations Standard Colorado Division of Wildlife regulations apply to the majority of the river, but there is a Catch-and-Release only stretch for 9 miles below Lake Estes all the way to the Waltonia Bridge, and only artificial flies and lures are permitted on this section of the river.
What river runs thru Libby Montana?
The Kootenai River, Libby, Montana. Kootenai River The Kootenai River flows through Libby and Troy and offers Blue Ribbon trout fishing. Scenic Kootenai Falls and Lake Koocanusa Reservoir are two of the many attractions along this mountain river. The Kootenai River near Libby.
Is the Kootenai river polluted?
The Kootenai watershed, which straddles Canada, Montana, and Idaho has pervasive selenium pollution that is leaching from Teck’s mountaintop removal coal mines in British Columbia. High selenium concentrations in the river degrade water quality, poison fish, and pose a threat to human health.
Is there gold in the Kootenay River?
Prospectors from all over North America first descended on the Kootenay Valley in 1864. More than 10 million ounces of gold has been recovered from gold-bearing streams in the East Kootenay area and the locations of more than 50 gold showings are on the public record.
How cold is Kootenay River?
Temperature and precipitation vary greatly with elevation, but in the central basin January average daily temperatures are between about 25 and 30 °F (−4 and −1 °C), and July averages are mostly between 70 and 75 °F (21 and 24 °C).
How do you get to burbot from Kootenai River?
Finding a bait that works The fish use their one long chin “whisker”, or barbel to probe along the river bottom so fishing bait from the bottom is usually the best place to start. In 2004, only an estimated 50 fish remained in the entire Kootenai River. It is now estimated that 40,000-50,000 fish occupy the system.
How do you catch a burbot in a river?
catch on your Setline Catch Report! Your hook must rest on the bottom of the lake/river. Burbot are most active at night and feed along the bottoms of lakes and rivers. The best spots to find burbot are shallow bays, shoals and near creek mouths with mud or sand bottoms.
How do you fish in burbot?
Whats it like to live in Bonners Ferry?
Bonners Ferry, named Idaho’s “Most Friendly Town” during the Idaho Governor’s Conference on Recreation and Tourism, offers its residents an outstanding quality of life in one of the most beautiful places in the nation. It is a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and retire.
How far is Bonners Ferry Idaho from the Canadian border?
Bonners Ferry, city, seat (1915) of Boundary county, northern Idaho, U.S. Located 27 miles (43 km) south of the Canadian border on the Kootenai River, the city developed around a trading post and ferry established in the early 1870s by pioneer Edwin Bonner.
Are kokanee good eating?
Kokanee is best eaten just before the spawning stage. Their flesh is the dazzling bright orange that many anglers long for, and it is richer in flavor than trout but softer than other salmon. If the fish is longer than 12 inches, you can fillet it. You can also butterfly it or gut-and-grill it.