Winding down but going out with a bang! October 3, 2020 Kootenai Fishing report

Days are cooler, nights are chilly and the fish are looking for some snacks on the river! Temps this week will be in the mid 70’s with rain scheduled to arrive Saturday, Oct 10. Winds are freakishly calm this week. It’s really been a treat not to deal with the ‘W’ word while casting. Last week the flow forecast was for two drops, but it looks like the powers that be changed their minds. The river did a pulse drop this week, returning to 6445 at the Idaho/Montana line. Another 1000 cfs pulse drop is expected on Oct 5, but back up on the 6th. On the day of the drop the fish responded best to nymphs 2 1/5 feet below a large dry fly.  Pat’s rubber legs did very well this week. But yesterday most of my fish were caught on a dry fly. New day, new fish menu.

Dry flies that worked for me were peach colored foam with elk hair wings. (I sort of modified a hippy stomper so it doesn’t have a name yet.) Also, lightly tied elk hair caddis with CDC under-wing did very well, size 16. We’re finding the fish will key in on tan colors one day and the next day it’s all peach, so have a variety in your flybox.  The banks are fishing well, but the fish are starting to stack up in the riffles so check the softer inside runs where the river bottom drops off in gradual shelves.

The Leonia access will be closing on the 15th. The Yaak campground access to Twin Rivers resort is 16 river miles, which is a very long day at these flows. If you’re interested in booking a trip with us, we have a few days available still.

Stay safe and see you on the river!