Guided Fly Fishing Kootenai River Montana
A trip to the Kootenai River valley offers a variety of fly fishing choices. Whether you will be spending the day with one of our guides
or venturing off to explore on your own rest assured that you will find many different types of water to choose from.
Winding it's way through the Northwest corner of Montana there are more than 70 miles of trout filled waters below Libby dam.
With a huge watershed and reservoir the Kootenai does not suffer from the restrictions caused by drought and heat.
Guests staying at the Lodge and Cabins also have private access to more than 2 miles of Lake Creek,
the lower Kootenai's finest tributary.
Fly fishing with us on the Kootenai and small streams you will spend the day with expert guides that have spent many years on this water.
Redband Rainbow, Westslope Cutthroat and Brown Trout are our primary targets in these rivers.
A typical day guided fly fishing is at least 8 hours covering 6 to 10 miles of river or stream. We fish the Kootenai and small streams
from drift boats to give us access to those places that would other wise be inaccessible on foot. We also stop as needed to get
out and fish the back channels, islands,
gravel bars and such. We won't keep you confined to the boat all day.
The season here starts late March / April for pre run off on the Kootenai. Then moves to small streams while the Koot blows out.
July finds us covering all the bases and we typically have great fishing through October.
Full day trips include Jeanie's famous homemade sandwiches, salad, dessert and non alcoholic beverages. Just bring your gear and licenses.
Full day guided fly fishing ~ 8 to 9 hours ~ 1 guide / 1 or 2 ppl ~ $595
Half day guided fly fishing ~ 4 to 5 hours ~ 1 guide / 1 or 2 ppl ~ $465
Call Us to Book ~ 
~ 406-295-9444
~ Hatch Chart Here
~ Buy Montana Fishing Licenses Here ~
Meet Your Hosts & Guides
Kelly Palmer ~ "Senior" Guide
Kelly began guiding fly fishermen on the Kootenai and its tributaries in 1997. For most of those years, his availability was limited to the summer months as he was also the school counselor at Troy High School.
Now that he has retired from education, KRO is happy to announce that Kelly is available to guide until the season ends . Generally mid to late October.
Kelly's knowledge of the fishery and area waters, fly fishing in general, his patience and congenial personality make him a favorite of many clients. He has a regular following of guests that continue to return again and again.
Whether you are a well traveled seasoned fly fisherman or just starting out you be be assured that a day spent in the boat with him will be fun, professional, educational...AND...you'll catch some fish!
Tony Knapp ~ Guide
My name is Tony Knapp, and I’m excited to be one of
your guides when you join us here at KRO!
Before moving to the waters of Montana, I grew up in Western Pennsylvania along the fly fishing only section of the North Fork of the Allegheny. I could watch the hatch start from the dinner table, ask to be excused and be on the water in under two minutes. This of course led to an early love of fly fishing in my teenage years, and a desire for more, bigger, and more unique fishing experiences.
In college I fished, and studied education on the side. After graduating in 2014 I left for the tundra of Alaska. While it was a fun experience there, I was still excited to fish the western states I grew up seeing in all the fly fishing magazines while growing up. Never did I picture getting to live there, let alone be on the river almost every day in the summer!
I met Robert and Jeanie shortly after moving to Troy, and began guiding for KRO in 2019. I am grateful for the opportunity to show you around the Kootenai. If you are a skilled fisherman, or If you’re just getting into the sport, teaching is what I do! Trust me, no matter your skill level, I work with Jr. High the rest of the year, so I’ll still be having fun, and make sure you can enjoy the experience.
Owners & Hosts ~ Robert & Jeanie Winstrom
Jeanie and I want to welcome you to KRO and invite you to come experience our little corner of the "last best place" in the lower 48.
In 2004 we started our dream to leave behind the hustle and bustle of the busy world and provide a quality one of a kind Fly Fishing
destination in this truly unique environment.
Having cut my fly fishing chops in the northeast part of the country from the spring creeks of PA to the Northwoods of Maine... to chasing Atlantic or Landlocked Salmon and Brookies in Canada to tiny little unknown creeks in
New Jersey...yes New Jersey. Then after spending years exploring what many of the western states more famous "name brand" rivers had to offer... In 2001 I started my Montana guiding journey floating the Kootenai that year for the first time.
And as they would say...I never looked back.
Over the years I have spent countless days on the water both here on the Kootenai and in the wilderness on the streams and lakes that surround it.
We are now mow moving in to our 3rd decade welcoming clients to our little piece of paradise. Whether a returning guest or never been here befor...come on up ,
we hope to see you as well.
While running the day to day operations and property maintenance take up much of our time...we remain committed to being a small family run personal business. We want to meet you and say hello and make sure your trip is exceptional.
KRO will never be a "cattle herding" tourist trap outfitting business that
you may find elsewhere in the fly fishing industry.
Jeanie is Queen of back of the house scheduling / reservations.
Plus all things edible that make it into the cabins or lodge for your arrival
and out onto the boats for your days fishing. Homemade fruit crisps,
baked goods and preserves from our orchard are her specialty.
And while I don't spend nearly as many days on the water as I used to...
IF you are a returning guest or well seasoned fly fisherman
then you just might find me at the end of the oars.
"Mend it Feed it Mend it Feed it!"
NW Montana ~ Kootenai River Fishing Report ~ Spring ~ '24
We are officially opened up and ready to roll for 2024!
Late April - May. Warm days have set in. Mornings still chilly but we're off to a great start this year.
Kootenai is in fine shape so far and fishing quite well. At some point we're going to pick up some run off but so far the long range forecast and
snowpack levels don't make me think we're going to get any kind of major blow out this year.
Lake Creek at the Lodge and Cabins is in really good shape and as usual some of the best early season fishing to be found anywhere up here.
We're seeing great hatches of March Browns and Caddis on the creek as well as Olives and Little Black Stones on the Kootenai. Flying Ants soon.
May is going to see the start of BIG BUGS. Green and Grey Drakes plus Golden Stones are right around the corner.
When in doubt throw a streamer or a big rubber legged nymph.
Give us a call and lets get you out on the water.
