River Flow: 6,500 cfs 10-16 foot visibility 57 degrees
Inflow from Lake Koocanusa: 5000 cfs
Hatches: October Caddis on the lower Kootenai, Blue-wing olives, Pale Morning Duns, Tan Caddis, Little Blue Quills, Tiny Winged Ants, 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: Orange Stimulator, 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, ant midges.
Guide report: Kootenai is moving into its fall conditions, with the colors starting to change and super clear water. 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. Watch for the Ant midges when you can’t see what they are taking! Good BWO activity on overcast days. Use a large Orange Stimulator for the October Caddis.