Lake Koocanusa fishing

Lake Koocanusa fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout on a reservoir. Also recorded: Kokanee, Bull Trout, Burbot, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, and 1 more. It is stocked about 9.4 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Kokanee, dusk and night for Burbot, and dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch.

Lake Koocanusa
Photo: Darren Kirby, CC BY-SA 3.0
Last stocked
June 12, 2024
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
132
Since 2011
Species stocked
1 (+7 also recorded)
Average size
7.1 in
Elevation
2,455.2 ft

Fish at Lake Koocanusa

1 stocked · 7 confirmed present

Around the dates Lake Koocanusa is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 55.8°F in May, 63.3°F in June, 44.6°F in April, 47.6°F in October. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 132 plants · last June 12, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked June 12, 2024 · avg 7.1 in · 132 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Lake Koocanusa is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

No plants recorded in 2022.

Fish stocked in 2011

31,046

Fish stocked in 2012

33,571

Fish stocked in 2013

1,498

Fish stocked in 2014

30,007

Fish stocked in 2015

89,865

Fish stocked in 2016

68,419

Fish stocked in 2017

72,318

Fish stocked in 2018

69,381

Fish stocked in 2019

68,960

Fish stocked in 2020

68,231

Fish stocked in 2021

146,354

Fish stocked in 2023

92,346

Fish stocked in 2024

62,752

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 12, 2024Rainbow Trout27,2582.68 inreport
June 11, 2024Rainbow Trout14,3442.7 inreport
June 11, 2024Rainbow Trout13,9852.66 inreport
May 28, 2024Rainbow Trout1,0357.53 inreport
May 16, 2024Rainbow Trout4,5897.48 inreport
April 18, 2024Rainbow Trout14518.27 inreport
April 18, 2024Rainbow Trout2618.27 inreport
April 17, 2024Rainbow Trout16117.98 inreport
April 16, 2024Rainbow Trout15118.27 inreport
April 15, 2024Rainbow Trout14018.58 inreport
April 3, 2024Rainbow Trout23712.88 inreport
April 2, 2024Rainbow Trout39112.88 inreport
April 1, 2024Rainbow Trout29013.95 inreport
October 5, 2023Rainbow Trout12,6714.42 inreport
October 4, 2023Rainbow Trout6,3334.33 inreport
October 4, 2023Rainbow Trout6,9994.17 inreport
October 3, 2023Rainbow Trout13,3264.28 inreport
October 2, 2023Rainbow Trout12,7094.31 inreport
September 11, 2023Rainbow Trout8,6223.98 inreport
April 13, 2023Rainbow Trout3,4747.23 inreport
April 12, 2023Rainbow Trout8,8157.41 inreport
April 11, 2023Rainbow Trout9,8917.09 inreport
April 10, 2023Rainbow Trout9,5067.25 inreport
October 20, 2021Rainbow Trout8,9094.51 inreport
October 18, 2021Rainbow Trout8,7684.49 inreport
October 14, 2021Rainbow Trout8,9994.4 inreport
October 13, 2021Rainbow Trout8,6294.41 inreport
October 12, 2021Rainbow Trout8,6554.43 inreport
October 6, 2021Rainbow Trout10,1834.09 inreport
October 5, 2021Rainbow Trout9,1744.22 inreport
October 4, 2021Rainbow Trout8,3624.33 inreport
May 26, 2021Rainbow Trout6,5367.15 inreport
May 18, 2021Rainbow Trout8,9957.15 inreport
May 12, 2021Rainbow Trout8,5777.08 inreport
May 11, 2021Rainbow Trout2,8387.08 inreport
May 3, 2021Rainbow Trout2,5997.26 inreport
April 19, 2021Rainbow Trout10,6786.54 inreport
April 14, 2021Rainbow Trout8,6966.99 inreport
April 14, 2021Rainbow Trout3,0896.79 inreport
April 14, 2021Rainbow Trout8,6966.99 inreport
April 7, 2021Rainbow Trout8,4826.93 inreport
April 6, 2021Rainbow Trout2,6727.19 inreport
April 5, 2021Rainbow Trout2,8177.04 inreport
May 29, 2020Rainbow Trout2,8606.8 inreport
May 27, 2020Rainbow Trout10,5596.96 inreport
May 26, 2020Rainbow Trout10,6226.88 inreport
April 8, 2020Rainbow Trout11,1376.75 inreport
April 7, 2020Rainbow Trout11,3866.69 inreport
March 31, 2020Rainbow Trout11,0176.76 inreport
March 30, 2020Rainbow Trout10,6506.89 inreport
May 23, 2019Rainbow Trout8,8267.13 inreport
May 21, 2019Rainbow Trout8,3207.26 inreport
May 20, 2019Rainbow Trout8,3347.17 inreport
May 15, 2019Rainbow Trout5,0407.18 inreport
May 14, 2019Rainbow Trout7,6727.15 inreport
May 13, 2019Rainbow Trout8,1297.16 inreport
May 9, 2019Rainbow Trout6,8987.06 inreport
May 8, 2019Rainbow Trout7,2907.07 inreport
May 6, 2019Rainbow Trout8,4517.2 inreport
May 23, 2018Rainbow Trout8,2707.16 inreport
May 22, 2018Rainbow Trout8,1167.32 inreport
May 21, 2018Rainbow Trout8,0047.36 inreport
May 16, 2018Rainbow Trout6,6526.99 inreport
May 15, 2018Rainbow Trout8,1457.26 inreport
May 14, 2018Rainbow Trout8,8137.04 inreport
May 11, 2018Rainbow Trout5,6807.26 inreport
May 10, 2018Rainbow Trout7,4667.37 inreport
May 9, 2018Rainbow Trout8,2357.4 inreport
May 17, 2017Rainbow Trout2,8357.23 inreport
May 16, 2017Rainbow Trout7,2877.37 inreport
May 15, 2017Rainbow Trout7,8497.33 inreport
May 12, 2017Rainbow Trout3,5117.24 inreport
May 12, 2017Rainbow Trout4,4547.11 inreport
May 11, 2017Rainbow Trout8,1787.04 inreport
May 10, 2017Rainbow Trout7,4157.3 inreport
May 9, 2017Rainbow Trout4,9917.04 inreport
May 8, 2017Rainbow Trout6,3587.04 inreport
May 5, 2017Rainbow Trout6,7367.01 inreport
May 4, 2017Rainbow Trout6,4327.11 inreport
May 3, 2017Rainbow Trout6,2727.03 inreport
June 1, 2016Rainbow Trout2,2217.11 inreport
June 1, 2016Rainbow Trout8,5887.11 inreport
June 1, 2016Rainbow Trout2,1407.11 inreport
May 31, 2016Rainbow Trout8,5697.11 inreport
May 18, 2016Rainbow Trout8,5476.9 inreport
May 18, 2016Rainbow Trout9,4006.9 inreport
May 17, 2016Rainbow Trout2,9786.71 inreport
May 5, 2016Rainbow Trout10,2766.78 inreport
May 4, 2016Rainbow Trout9,6676.78 inreport
May 3, 2016Rainbow Trout6,0336.62 inreport
October 5, 2015Rainbow Trout5,8493.48 inreport
October 1, 2015Rainbow Trout18,7753.5 inreport
September 30, 2015Rainbow Trout18,5723.5 inreport
September 22, 2015Rainbow Trout13,1593.6 inreport
June 4, 2015Rainbow Trout1,7337.06 inreport
June 3, 2015Rainbow Trout2,1277.06 inreport
June 3, 2015Rainbow Trout2,4117.06 inreport
June 3, 2015Rainbow Trout2,7996.67 inreport
June 3, 2015Rainbow Trout7,3747.06 inreport
June 3, 2015Rainbow Trout3,0356.67 inreport
June 2, 2015Rainbow Trout2,8666.67 inreport
June 2, 2015Rainbow Trout2,5296.67 inreport
May 29, 2015Rainbow Trout8,6366.87 inreport
May 30, 2014Rainbow Trout7056.3 inreport
May 29, 2014Rainbow Trout6,4006.3 inreport
May 29, 2014Rainbow Trout3,0006.3 inreport
May 29, 2014Rainbow Trout3,0006.3 inreport
May 29, 2014Rainbow Trout3,0006.3 inreport
May 22, 2014Rainbow Trout3,8116.06 inreport
May 20, 2014Rainbow Trout6,9506.06 inreport
May 19, 2014Rainbow Trout3,1416.2 inreport
June 26, 2013Rainbow Trout1,4987.75 inreport
June 29, 2012Rainbow Trout1,8727.36 inreport
June 29, 2012Rainbow Trout1,8727.36 inreport
June 29, 2012Rainbow Trout1,5357.36 inreport
June 28, 2012Rainbow Trout1,9147.3 inreport
June 28, 2012Rainbow Trout1,8977.33 inreport
June 27, 2012Rainbow Trout6,6357.3 inreport
June 27, 2012Rainbow Trout6,4907.36 inreport
June 27, 2012Rainbow Trout1,9147.3 inreport
June 27, 2012Rainbow Trout1,8727.36 inreport
June 26, 2012Rainbow Trout1,8727.36 inreport
June 26, 2012Rainbow Trout1,8727.36 inreport
June 25, 2012Rainbow Trout1,9147.3 inreport
June 25, 2012Rainbow Trout1,4547.3 inreport
June 21, 2012Rainbow Trout4587.31 inreport
June 28, 2011Rainbow Trout8,7856.57 inreport
June 28, 2011Rainbow Trout2,2246.92 inreport
June 28, 2011Rainbow Trout7607.23 inreport
June 27, 2011Rainbow Trout9,1736.57 inreport
June 27, 2011Rainbow Trout7,8426.92 inreport
June 27, 2011Rainbow Trout2,2626.92 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Libby
Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
camping, dock, restrooms, cleaning station

A 90-mile-long reservoir on the Kootenai River formed by Libby Dam in 1972, stretching into British Columbia. Numerous Kootenai National Forest campgrounds line the Montana shore (Rexford Bench, Souse Gulch, Dunn Creek, and others), most with boat ramps.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.

About Lake Koocanusa

Photo of Lake Koocanusa
Darren Kirby, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo of Lake Koocanusa
Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
Photo of Lake Koocanusa
Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0

Nearest lakes

Frank Lake 14.8 mi last stocked May 25, 2023 South Fish Lake 15.2 mi last stocked August 9, 2024 Timber Lake 15.2 mi last stocked May 5, 2023 Tetrault Lake 17 mi last stocked May 6, 2026 Vinal Lake 17.5 mi last stocked August 9, 2024

Public land at Lake Koocanusa

Lake Koocanusa is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Kootenai National Forest.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Koocanusa?

Fishing Lake Koocanusa usually means Rainbow Trout. All 132 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked June 12, 2024, averaging 7.1 in. Kokanee, Bull Trout, Burbot, and Westslope Cutthroat Trout, plus 3 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Koocanusa stocked?

Last stocked June 12, 2024. It is stocked about 9.4 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. No plants recorded in 2022.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Koocanusa?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Lake Koocanusa average 7.1 in.

How do you get on Lake Koocanusa?

There is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Libby. Facilities include camping, dock, restrooms, and cleaning station. A 90-mile-long reservoir on the Kootenai River formed by Libby Dam in 1972, stretching into British Columbia. Numerous Kootenai National Forest campgrounds line the Montana shore (Rexford Bench, Souse Gulch, Dunn Creek, and others), most with boat ramps.

Which lakes near Lake Koocanusa were stocked more recently?

South Fish Lake (15.2 mi), Tetrault Lake (17 mi), and Vinal Lake (17.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Tetrault Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (8) +