Lake Koocanusa
Lake Koocanusa is a 90 mile long lake formed by the 422 foot tall Libby Dam. It extends from Montana to Canada and its relative isolation--compared to Flathead Lake and Whitefish Lake--keep Lake Koocanusa free of crowds. Although home to a wide variety of fish, Lake Koocanusa makes for a nice scenic destination rather than a sought after fishing hole.
The fish you will find in Lake Koocanusa include rainbow trout, whitefish, kokanee salmon, cutthroat trout, and bull trout. You can fish from the shore in a few places during the spring and summer.
However, you will be more successful if you fish from a small boat given the huge size of the lake.
Lake Koocanusa is open to fishing year round. You will need a Montana fishing license and you must abide by all Montana fishing regulations.
Catch limits include: 5 rainbow trout daily (10 in possession), with only one over 22 inches, 20 brook trout, and 3 cutthroat trout. You may catch 35 kokanee a day with 70 in possession. The limit on burbot
(ling) is 5 daily and 5 in possession. However, burbot fishing is open only from mid-January through February.
Libby Dam greatly affects the level of the lake. During draw downs, when the dam uses water for power production, lake levels can be very low, especially during years of drought. Low water levels can make it difficult to launch fishing boats.
It is not difficult to reach Lake Koocanusa. Highway 37 runs along the east side for several miles. On the west side, you'll find a bumpy dirt road. Both sides bear numerous boat landings, some are public while others are private.
Because the lake tends to be low and the fishing does not compare to the fishing of the nearby Libby Dam area, Lake Koocanusa isn't the dream destination of most anglers. However, if you are looking for solitude, spectacular scenery, and great camping, Lake Koocanusa is a perfect fit.
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