With flows dropping to around 4,000 cfs, the Kootenai is shaping up to be very fishable right now, according to Orvis Fly Fishing Reports. Water temps are hovering near 45 degrees, so while conditions are improving, it’s still a cold-water game. Subsurface presentations are your best bet—focus on getting flies down and staying in the strike zone. This isn’t the time for shortcuts on weight or depth.
Looking ahead, expect partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 30s through most of the week, with a chance of rain and snow rolling in closer to the weekend. If you’re hunting bigger fish, now’s the time to lean into streamers—they’ve been moving some of the better trout this time of year.
Photo credit: JMichl from Getty Images Signature
