More Pics Accomodations: River side cabins available - please see website for addtional info. Cost: $395 full day - 2 anglers,$50 for 3rd angler; $295 half day - 2 anglers,$50 for 3rd angler Dates: Year round Duration: Open Location: Libby, Montana Not Included: Fishing license Phone Number: 800-322-9339 or 406-293-7578 Provided: All gear, including flies, lunch on all day float, sodas Species: Rainbow, Cutthroat, Bull trout Website: www.montana-flyfishing.com

Dave Blackburn's Kootenai Angler Guide Service- Montana

Located in Northwest Montana , and originating on the western slope of the Canadian Rockies, born of crystal clear glacier fed streams, the Kootenai River is Montana 's newest and largest tailwater fishery. It is one of the west's premier dry fly trout rivers.

Dave Blackburn started tying flies and fly fishing at the age of 10 when his sixth grade teacher introduced him to the sport. Having grown up in Pennsylvania he was schooled on many of the classic limestone streams of the east. He graduated from West Virginia University with a BS in Forest Resource Management with an emphasis on water quality and aquatic biology. He traveled westward chasing "wild trout tales" and gained employment as a wilderness ranger in the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. He settled on the banks of the Kootenai in 1981 and founded Kootenai Angler as the area's first exclusive fly fishing guide service. Kootenai Angler has grown to include a full service fly shop in downtown Libby, a guide staff of eight, and a 60 acre, riverfront homestead on the Kootenai.

The Fishing:

Isolated in the northwest corner of Montana the Kootenai lies off the beaten path of the more traveled, popular "big name" rivers of Montana . Providing a truly uncrowded setting the Kootenai maintains a high quality trout fishery. Rainbow trout up to 31 pounds have been taken on the river. Native Cutthroat and Bull Trout also abound. The Kootenai River is a big, classic western river. It was harnessed for power generation in 1973. The Kootenai River emerging from Libby Dam is Montana 's newest tailwater fishery. Cradled between the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and the Purcell Mountains , it contains a wide array of insect life to support prolific hatches throughout the season.

The Kootenai and its tributaries are the only waters in Montana to contain a native strain of rainbow trout, called Columbia Redbands. These trout are indigenous to the headwaters of the Columbia River . They are known for their excellent acrobatic fighting ability and their characteristic "football" shape. Fish are active year round with the controlled consistently cool flows from the Dam. Weed beds, riffles and long deep runs contain an array of aquatic insect life to support from 1500-2500 catchable trout per mile. The Kootenai fishery remains one of the western rivers that is virtually unaffected by drought and forest fires due to the deep, large reservoir which insures an endless cool water supply.

Rates:

We are pleased to tell you that we will continue our policy to include all of your equipment, including flies, in our 2008 rates to help make your day outstanding on the Kootenai River . It is important that when fishing our river to use the proper flies, and we will make them available on every guided trip at no additional charge. We will always be including our excellent whole-grain deli sandwiches on full day floats. We will do everything we can to accommodate you on any specialties you may require. In addition, if you would like to try a certain rod you've been interested in, we will have top-of-the-line demo fly rods available by Sage, Winston and Orvis.

2008 Fishing Rates

Full day float trips