Montana
Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby
Current River Rating
Fair · 52
Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Timing Outlook
This timing outlook is informational only; current river conditions remain Fair.
Why
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 6780 CFS
- Gage Height
- 19.04 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:00 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 12301933 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
55°F
Feels like
52°F
Wind
1 mph NW
Wind gust
3 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 4, 2026, 11:15 PM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Clear
Temp 53°F
Chance 6%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 50°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 0 mph
Sat 10 AM
Mostly clear
Temp 61°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Sat 2 PM
Clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 6 PM
Clear
Temp 77°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 10 PM
Overcast
Temp 65°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 77°F / Low 49°F
Chance 9%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 16 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 81°F / Low 55°F
Chance 40%
Precip 0.01 in
Max gust 13 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 76°F / Low 52°F
Chance 77%
Precip 0.12 in
Max gust 17 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Bounded Kootenai River trout tailwater below Libby Dam near Libby, Montana. USGS 12301933 is the at-location monitoring identity with live discharge and gage height. Instantaneous water temperature at this site is stale and is not used. Thermal context uses the accepted river-trout air-derived path. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. Not the Idaho station 12305000.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Kootenai River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
The Kootenai below Libby Dam is a Western District tailwater trout fishery. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 12301933 (live discharge; air-derived trout thermal path). Stale 00010 is not promoted as live temperature. This is not Kootenai at Leonia, Idaho. Flow Context remains default-deny. Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are a native game fish in this drainage per official state fishery management; they are described here because StrikeTracks has no species-selector ID. Confirm current FWP whitefish rules separately (https://fwp.mt.gov/fish). Hatch Match remains unpublished for this identity after Option-B local-expert seasonal research. No two Libby Dam–specific independent month calendars.
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP-managed Kootenai River tailwater below Libby Dam, Montana (USGS 12301933). Rainbow trout is the verified catalog sport-fish ID. Not the Idaho Leonia gauge.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Wild
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Large regulated Kootenai tailwater immediately below Libby Dam toward Libby, Montana.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing is documented by FWP and USACE/USFS postings below Libby Dam. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point, not a launch pin.
Stocking information
Confirm current official FWP stocking on the Kootenai tailwater. Do not invent a stocking schedule.
Official sources
Western District seasons apply unless a Kootenai Exception is listed. Verify 2026 FWP regulations. Do not treat 12305000 (Leonia, Idaho) as this Montana destination. Do not treat stale 00010 as live temperature.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Lincoln, Montana
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Lincoln
Management Category
Wild trout tailwater
Regulation Scope
Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby, Montana
Regulation Summary
Kootenai below Libby Dam: FWP Western District regulations unless an Exception applies. Confirm current closures.
Target Species
Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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