Kootenay River Fishing

[chipchap]

Hi,

I am taking my whitewater raft for a 3 day trip down the Kootenay river from McLeod Meadows (north of Radium) to the confluence of the White River. I will be supporting a group of about 8 kayakers and I will have ample time to fish some pools along the way down. Has anyone here fished this stretch of river? Any advice or tips? I am a regular on the upper Red Deer where I take my raft and fish for bully's and I am thinking this river may be quite similar in what flies I will use. Thanks.

[eagleflyfisher]

Check in your regs, I think kootenay above the white is classified, 20$ per day. Hope I'm wrong for you.
Really only started fishing river last 3 years, have done really well in fall, spring has been good around river mouths dumping in.
Big weighted streamers. Pay attention to log jams, boulders in river, Bulls love hanging around those.
Higher up where your going River should have more grade & cleaner water. Beautiful up there.
Checked it out 3 weeks ago and water was high & fish were scarce.
I hear tell of some good size rainbows in the system too.

[chipchap]

Thanks eagleflyfisher. Yeah it looks like I am going to have to pony up $60 for the three days.... Heading out at the end of September so the levels should be low. I am going to huck in some big weighted streamers like you said. I am thinking the bully's might be either holding deep in some pools or looking for oxygenated water at creek and river mouths, find out soon enough I guess. Thanks again.

[FlyTrapper]

Mcleod Meadows in withing the National Park, for most of the first day of the float you should be in the National Park and require a license as such. Once you pass under the Settler's Road bridge you are in BC and it becomes classified waters. I've floated it multiple times and worked out there for many summers on the river and fishing it, there are some hairy spots, be on the lookout.

Nick

[chipchap]

Thanks for the info Nick, I will have to look up the proper license for sure. I will be on the river with a few other professional whitewater guides and we will be on the lookout for hairy sections for sure. I will post some pics of the fish I catch after the trip. Thanks again.