Lake Koocanusa

Lake Koocanusa fishing

Fishing at Lake Koocanusa is on a reservoir, stocked with Rainbow Trout. It is stocked about 9.4 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

June 12, 2024

Plants on record

132

Since 2011

Species recorded

1

Average size

7.1 in

Elevation

2,455.2 ft

Access and facts

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

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.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , access , nearest_town , photos , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Lake Koocanusa is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of May. In 2024 it was April 1, 2024, earlier than usual.

No plants recorded in 2022.

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.

Fish at Lake Koocanusa

Fishing Lake Koocanusa is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. All 132 plants on record are Rainbow Trout.

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 132 plants
Plants
132 of 132
Last stocked
June 12, 2024
Average length
7.1 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Fishing Lake Koocanusa

The lake supports a wide variety of fish species. There are various fish species which may be encountered on the lake. Lake Koocanusa is a reservoir in British Columbia (Canada) and Montana (United States) formed by the damming of the Kootenai River by the Libby Dam in 1972. It is 26 km (16 mi) from Libby, Montana, also on the Kootenai River.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Selenium pollution from Teck Resources' upstream open-pit coal mines' waste rock has raised concerns for Lake Koocanusa. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality reported that 95% of the lake's selenium originated from the Elk River, contaminated by coal mining. Due to high bioaccumulation in fish, excessive selenium levels have implications for human health.

Fish stocked per year

  • 31,0462011
  • 33,5712012
  • 1,4982013
  • 30,0072014
  • 89,8652015
  • 68,4192016
  • 72,3182017
  • 69,3812018
  • 68,9602019
  • 68,2312020
  • 146,3542021
  • 92,3462023
  • 62,7522024

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 132 plants Showing 132 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 12, 2024 Rainbow Trout 27,258 2.68 in report
June 11, 2024 Rainbow Trout 14,344 2.7 in report
June 11, 2024 Rainbow Trout 13,985 2.66 in report
May 28, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,035 7.53 in report
May 16, 2024 Rainbow Trout 4,589 7.48 in report
April 18, 2024 Rainbow Trout 145 18.27 in report
April 18, 2024 Rainbow Trout 26 18.27 in report
April 17, 2024 Rainbow Trout 161 17.98 in report
April 16, 2024 Rainbow Trout 151 18.27 in report
April 15, 2024 Rainbow Trout 140 18.58 in report
April 3, 2024 Rainbow Trout 237 12.88 in report
April 2, 2024 Rainbow Trout 391 12.88 in report
April 1, 2024 Rainbow Trout 290 13.95 in report
October 5, 2023 Rainbow Trout 12,671 4.42 in report
October 4, 2023 Rainbow Trout 6,999 4.17 in report
October 4, 2023 Rainbow Trout 6,333 4.33 in report
October 3, 2023 Rainbow Trout 13,326 4.28 in report
October 2, 2023 Rainbow Trout 12,709 4.31 in report
September 11, 2023 Rainbow Trout 8,622 3.98 in report
April 13, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,474 7.23 in report
April 12, 2023 Rainbow Trout 8,815 7.41 in report
April 11, 2023 Rainbow Trout 9,891 7.09 in report
April 10, 2023 Rainbow Trout 9,506 7.25 in report
October 20, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,909 4.51 in report
October 18, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,768 4.49 in report
October 14, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,999 4.4 in report
October 13, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,629 4.41 in report
October 12, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,655 4.43 in report
October 6, 2021 Rainbow Trout 10,183 4.09 in report
October 5, 2021 Rainbow Trout 9,174 4.22 in report
October 4, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,362 4.33 in report
May 26, 2021 Rainbow Trout 6,536 7.15 in report
May 18, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,995 7.15 in report
May 12, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,577 7.08 in report
May 11, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,838 7.08 in report
May 3, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,599 7.26 in report
April 19, 2021 Rainbow Trout 10,678 6.54 in report
April 14, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,696 6.99 in report
April 14, 2021 Rainbow Trout 3,089 6.79 in report
April 14, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,696 6.99 in report
April 7, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,482 6.93 in report
April 6, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,672 7.19 in report
April 5, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,817 7.04 in report
May 29, 2020 Rainbow Trout 2,860 6.8 in report
May 27, 2020 Rainbow Trout 10,559 6.96 in report
May 26, 2020 Rainbow Trout 10,622 6.88 in report
April 8, 2020 Rainbow Trout 11,137 6.75 in report
April 7, 2020 Rainbow Trout 11,386 6.69 in report
March 31, 2020 Rainbow Trout 11,017 6.76 in report
March 30, 2020 Rainbow Trout 10,650 6.89 in report
May 23, 2019 Rainbow Trout 8,826 7.13 in report
May 21, 2019 Rainbow Trout 8,320 7.26 in report
May 20, 2019 Rainbow Trout 8,334 7.17 in report
May 15, 2019 Rainbow Trout 5,040 7.18 in report
May 14, 2019 Rainbow Trout 7,672 7.15 in report
May 13, 2019 Rainbow Trout 8,129 7.16 in report
May 9, 2019 Rainbow Trout 6,898 7.06 in report
May 8, 2019 Rainbow Trout 7,290 7.07 in report
May 6, 2019 Rainbow Trout 8,451 7.2 in report
May 23, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,270 7.16 in report
May 22, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,116 7.32 in report
May 21, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,004 7.36 in report
May 16, 2018 Rainbow Trout 6,652 6.99 in report
May 15, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,145 7.26 in report
May 14, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,813 7.04 in report
May 11, 2018 Rainbow Trout 5,680 7.26 in report
May 10, 2018 Rainbow Trout 7,466 7.37 in report
May 9, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,235 7.4 in report
May 17, 2017 Rainbow Trout 2,835 7.23 in report
May 16, 2017 Rainbow Trout 7,287 7.37 in report
May 15, 2017 Rainbow Trout 7,849 7.33 in report
May 12, 2017 Rainbow Trout 3,511 7.24 in report
May 12, 2017 Rainbow Trout 4,454 7.11 in report
May 11, 2017 Rainbow Trout 8,178 7.04 in report
May 10, 2017 Rainbow Trout 7,415 7.3 in report
May 9, 2017 Rainbow Trout 4,991 7.04 in report
May 8, 2017 Rainbow Trout 6,358 7.04 in report
May 5, 2017 Rainbow Trout 6,736 7.01 in report
May 4, 2017 Rainbow Trout 6,432 7.11 in report
May 3, 2017 Rainbow Trout 6,272 7.03 in report
June 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,140 7.11 in report
June 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,221 7.11 in report
June 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 8,588 7.11 in report
May 31, 2016 Rainbow Trout 8,569 7.11 in report
May 18, 2016 Rainbow Trout 8,547 6.9 in report
May 18, 2016 Rainbow Trout 9,400 6.9 in report
May 17, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,978 6.71 in report
May 5, 2016 Rainbow Trout 10,276 6.78 in report
May 4, 2016 Rainbow Trout 9,667 6.78 in report
May 3, 2016 Rainbow Trout 6,033 6.62 in report
October 5, 2015 Rainbow Trout 5,849 3.48 in report
October 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 18,775 3.5 in report
September 30, 2015 Rainbow Trout 18,572 3.5 in report
September 22, 2015 Rainbow Trout 13,159 3.6 in report
June 4, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,733 7.06 in report
June 3, 2015 Rainbow Trout 7,374 7.06 in report
June 3, 2015 Rainbow Trout 2,411 7.06 in report
June 3, 2015 Rainbow Trout 3,035 6.67 in report
June 3, 2015 Rainbow Trout 2,799 6.67 in report
June 3, 2015 Rainbow Trout 2,127 7.06 in report
June 2, 2015 Rainbow Trout 2,866 6.67 in report
June 2, 2015 Rainbow Trout 2,529 6.67 in report
May 29, 2015 Rainbow Trout 8,636 6.87 in report
May 30, 2014 Rainbow Trout 705 6.3 in report
May 29, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,000 6.3 in report
May 29, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,000 6.3 in report
May 29, 2014 Rainbow Trout 6,400 6.3 in report
May 29, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,000 6.3 in report
May 22, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,811 6.06 in report
May 20, 2014 Rainbow Trout 6,950 6.06 in report
May 19, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,141 6.2 in report
June 26, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,498 7.75 in report
June 29, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,872 7.36 in report
June 29, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,872 7.36 in report
June 29, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,535 7.36 in report
June 28, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,914 7.3 in report
June 28, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,897 7.33 in report
June 27, 2012 Rainbow Trout 6,635 7.3 in report
June 27, 2012 Rainbow Trout 6,490 7.36 in report
June 27, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,914 7.3 in report
June 27, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,872 7.36 in report
June 26, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,872 7.36 in report
June 26, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,872 7.36 in report
June 25, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,914 7.3 in report
June 25, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,454 7.3 in report
June 21, 2012 Rainbow Trout 458 7.31 in report
June 28, 2011 Rainbow Trout 8,785 6.57 in report
June 28, 2011 Rainbow Trout 2,224 6.92 in report
June 28, 2011 Rainbow Trout 760 7.23 in report
June 27, 2011 Rainbow Trout 9,173 6.57 in report
June 27, 2011 Rainbow Trout 7,842 6.92 in report
June 27, 2011 Rainbow Trout 2,262 6.92 in report
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Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes