River Flow: 7,000 cfs 10-16 foot visibility 55 degrees
Inflow from Lake Koocanusa : 8,800 cfs
Hatches: Pale Morning Duns, Tan Caddis, Little Blue Quills, Blue Wing Olives, Lots of Hoppers and Ants working into the mix. Some Mahogany duns starting to show. Starting to see heavy midge activity in upper river.
Effective Patterns: X-Caddis, Adams, Parachute Adams, Royal Wulff, Red Quill, Purple Haze, Beadhead Prince, Copper johns, Wooly Buggers, Da-Bomb, Small Stonefly nymphs, Olive Stimulators, all hopper patterns, griffiths gnat.
Guide report: Kootenai is down to its summer flat flow of 7,000 cfs. All stretches are fishing well. Guide boats are raising anywhere from 20-50 fish on half days on dries. Leader sizes need to be lengthened with the clearing water. Prior to hatch activity, streamer and nymph fishing is productive along with large dries/droppers. Have fun out there and wade safe, island points and gravels are unstable from the high flows of spring. There are great caddis hatches, with ovipositing in the evenings. Cooler weather is improving fishing conditions, with less emphasis towards a big evening, happy hour hatch.