Freestone · Limestone · British Columbia

Upper Kootenay River

Upper Kootenay River terrain map
Terrain map

The upper Kootenay in the Rocky Mountain Trench is broad, clear cutthroat water — long riffles, gravel bars and good runs holding native westslope cutthroat and bull trout with some rainbows.

Species

Closed season

Season reopens 15 June. Plenty of other water available now.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.
Water temperature for bull trout
Ideal
6°C est.ideal 6–12°C
0°14°28°
The full read · show the working · for bull trout · confidence 75%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time95 × 13%12.4
Pressure75 × 7%5.3
Insect activity29 × 12%3.5
Conditions total= 84
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Conditions
●Live gauge
Level
2.79 m
Water temp
6.1°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Clearing
Air temp
2°C
Wind
E 3 km/h
Calm
Pressure
1024 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.3 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
1.4 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 4 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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How to fish it · for bull trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2
American March BrownHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Native C&R, bull trout protected
  • Verify current BC regs (Region 4).
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The upper Kootenay in the Rocky Mountain Trench is broad, clear cutthroat water — long riffles, gravel bars and good runs holding native westslope cutthroat and bull trout with some rainbows. Big enough to float and full of willing fish, it fishes as fine dry-fly and streamer water through summer and autumn once it drops into shape.

Under the surface

The upper Kootenay between Canal Flats and Wardner is a broad, clear mountain freestone of long riffles, gravel bars and good runs holding native westslope cutthroat and bull trout with some rainbows. Big, floatable water in the Rocky Mountain Trench, it offers fine dry-fly and streamer fishing in classic Kootenay scenery.

Wading: Strong current, big river volume, flashy in runoff

  • Limestone
  • Partly confined
  • Pool riffle
  • Large river
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 June → 31 October
Other water nearby · 3
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