Koocanusa Lake
Lake Koocanusa was created by the construction of Libby Dam. The lake is very large and stretches from within Canada down through part of Montana. It is 85 miles in length, but despite its enormous size, it does not receive much attention for either boating or fishing. Whitefish Lake and Flathead Lake which lie close to Lake Koocanusa are the usual destinations for fishermen and boaters. During the late summer months, the water in Lake Koocanusa is drawn low for power production and this also limits boating activities. more info
There is a large variety of fish in the lake - rainbow trout, whitefish, kookanee salmon, cutthroat trout and bull trout. Some limited shore fishing is possible in the spring and early summer, before the draw down, for small cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon. A small boat is recommended during the later summer months to more easily cover the shoreline.
You can get to the Lake by taking Montana State Highway 37 which runs parallel to the Lake on the east side for much of the entire length of the water. On the opposite side, the west side, there is a rough dirt road. You can find boat landings on either side of the Lake and also near Libby Dam.
The Kootenai River, which flows just below the Libby Dam, is an excellent fishery. However, Lake Koocanusa rests in a beautiful setting and because of it seemingly unpopularity, it provides a scenic area which allows a person to find some solitude.
Just north of the Lake is a fairly new horse facility, which can accommodate not only riders, but also horses. The Lake is an excellent starting point for horseback riding, or hiking into the vast wilderness areas of Montana.
Kalispell, MT Weather
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