Kootenai River Outfitters

06/05/2026

Ok folks, I rarely come on here and ask for help of any kind in regards to local issues. But this hits close to home. And affects everything here you all love and enjoy.

It's death slowly by a thousand cuts. Bull Lake does NOT need more shoreline development.

I'll keep it short and let everyone do their own research. But suffice it to say that there is a local...well known unscrupulous land developer...who already has a proven track record of rule breaking and the environment be dammed...once again trying to fly under the radar and get permitting approved for more houses and tiny little lots on the shores of Bull Lake. Yes...the same lake that feeds our beloved Lake Creek and eventually the Kootenai River.

A clean healthy Bull Lake is the direct and indirect support for literally 100s of local jobs. Not just guides and outfitters but the local restaurants, hotels, shops, rentals, markets, etc etc. Far outweighing the insignificant short term gain of one developer with an already proven negative track record.

What is being proposed fills in more wetlands and as far as I can tell breaks many of the counties lakeshore development rules and will not meet Corp of Engineers requirements.

However that DOES NOT MEAN IT WONT HAPPEN! Or that damage won't be done. He has in the past blatantly flied in the face of the rule makers and done it anyway with very little consequence for his actions.

The lack of drainage engineering in his current subdivision was a DIRECT contributor to massive amounts of sediment from last years floods that are still having an impact 6 months later.

So anything we can all do to shoot this down BEFORE it gets started would be very helpful.

Please...pretty please... help to protect this pristine lake, watershed area and environment for generations to come and take a couple of minutes to read the following and submit a unique comment. Even just a few lines. They all help. It would TRULY be appreciated and Jeanie says there will be extra baked goods and jam for those that do. 😉

Thank you!

A developer wants to fill protected wetland for a 7-lot subdivision on the north-end peninsula. The Army Corps is taking public comments now. Here's how to be heard in 5 minutes.

06/02/2026

Even at high water it's fishing really well.

05/28/2026

Here is a picture recap of the last week or so. It is small stream time. Lake Creek at the lodge and cabins is in great shape. Visibility has improved dramatically in the last couple of weeks and we're about back to normal from last winters floods and storms. It's good. Real good. Green and Gray Drakes, Golden Stones, Caddis and a smattering of PMD's just starting.

Kootenai is running high for sturgeon for a couple of weeks but floatable. For now focus on the small streams.

Come see us. Its prime time in NW Montana!

05/25/2026

So here's a brief preview of the last few days. This young Bull Moose snuck up behind us and we didn't know he was there til he was less than 100 feet down stream. He headed up the creek past the lodge and didn't care one bit that we were there.

Fishing report is...Lake Creek is now quite cleared up. Not perfect but 5 or 6 feet of visibility. It is absolutely good to go now and has been fishing REALLY good. Seriously. Gray Drakes, some Salmon Flies, Golden Stones and some deep nypmhs and streamers. It's springtime and the best small stream time of year. I'll be posting lots more pics and video over the next week. We've been seeing some very good healthy fish this season both on the Creek and on the Koot.

Come see us folks. It's on!

05/13/2026

Ok folks...in keeping with the "what's new" theme. Bunk Rooms!

Not really new as we have used these rooms for years as overflow for larger groups renting out the lodge or other cabins. However we have given them a complete refresh and update for '26 and we are now going to rent them out as stand alone units.

Updated with new furniture, Wi-Fi, flat screen TV's, lighting and charging ports...these are perfect for the solo traveler or couple looking for a more affordable way to explore NW Montana without the frills of a full lodge or cabin. Just want a quiet clean peaceful place to rest yourself and shower after a day fishing or exploring? These are perfect.

These are NOT streamside with a view but a short 3 minute walk to the water. They are on the top floor of the Big Shop. You have access to the entire property just like all guest. They are basic clean and quiet rooms. Nothing fancy. There is a refrigerator, coffee pot, table, chairs and microwave downstairs.

We value your privacy. No one will be grabbing equipment or firing up a tractor outside your window during off hours. Though we might come by in the middle of the day to grab things from the shop. From 6pm till 10 am it's all yours quiet and peaceful.

2 people max each. 2 queen or full sized beds each. 2 night minimum. Think Best Western rooms or similar. There is a shared full bath for both rooms. But we do NOT rent out both rooms to different parties. Rent one room with 1 or 2 people and we block the other. (Bathroom is only shared if same party.) Or rent both rooms with up to 4 people in the same party.

Rooms are $125 per night OR $75 per night with cabin / lodge rental. You can book online, look at a property overview to see where these are located and find info anytime here:

https://kroutfitters.com/cabins2and3.html %20Shop%20Bunk%20Rooms%201&2

Or give us a call with any questions.

Have a great day! Robert & Jeanie.

05/12/2026

Time for a little bit of Montana life update and the silver lining that is this past years storm damage and clean up.

There are always plenty of fish pics to go around and we'll get back to them but for now I thought some of you would appreciate the following. I know we have lots of homesteading and do it yourselfers out there.

Having spent the last few months in clean up and repair mode we found ourselves with a somewhat happy dilemma. What to do with the roughly 20,000 board feet of timber that has been salvaged off the property? (There's still more hidden out back but...I digress.) So...what to do? Well...Buy a Sawmill and build a Sawmill Shed that's what! 😉😁

So ...it begins...here's a few pics of where we are at. Building site is mostly prepped. The outside posts of the mill are marked in the pics. Foot print is 16'x40' under roof. Main opening 24' wide. Today we finished up the permanent mounting of the saw. Now the milling of the first posts begins and the shed gets built around it.

In the coming year(s) we'll be using the wood for a bunch of new projects and improvements like a new picnic pavilion for guests down in front of Cabins 2&3, some much needed strategically placed benches and tables out back streamside, bridge repairs and lots of other things we haven't thought of yet. In other words we're going to put it all to good use.

Anyhow...hope folks enjoy these. I'll update as the build goes. Cheers! Have a great day everyone!

05/08/2026

Proper star alignment...no bananas in the boat...2 aging guides and a cooperative river. (click through pics on a big screen)

AKA...why I've been saying for years to get here in the spring time...learn to throw streamers and big nymphs...get down deep! And then when the Olives turn on like clockwork 5 seconds after the sun goes behind a cloud...switch up and throw that dry fly.

Been a long time since KP and I have had the chance for just us to get out and work the river. And plenty of those times over the years we've had our asses handed to us. Today was not one of those days. Suffice it to say the Kootenai treated us well.

Springtime is THE most under rated and underfished time up here. These are post spawn fish down from the tribs and they are looking to fatten up.

March Brown spinner falls in the mornings. Larger Olives when the sun ducks behind the clouds. And did I mention throw some streamers? Yeah! Can't say it enough. Bright sunny days. Get down to them. Kootenai is fishing quite well.

Golden Stones are starting and Green and Grey Drakes on Lake Creek. However it is still quite off color and will be for a while yet. The Koot is prime. Yaak and Bull 2 weeks till opening day. They will be fishable from day 1 and not for long. Snowpack for the small streams isn't going to last too long. If you want to fish / float them this year get here end of May and first part of June.

I've got a ton of video to get to and edit with these fish and more. I'll post some up in the coming week or so.

For now...it's time to fish folks. We've got good availability for the next month til we hit prime time. Stay 2 nights get 3rd free til the end of May. Come on up and spend a few days and let us get you our on the water!

05/04/2026

So here's a few more pics from the weekend. A couple of these are very nice fish. Springtime can definitely produce some good action as these are post spawn trout looking to fatten up.

Kootenai is in great shape. Come on up and see!

05/03/2026

A late Saturday night update. TLDR...Lake Creek, Kootenai...are fishing great! It's time to fish. Come stay a few, fish, BBQ, have a campfire and enjoy the weather! Forecast is beautiful.

So...good news is Lake Creek is starting to clear up a bit more. Lots of clear water hydrology coming in from the Stanley delta and the fish are moving into the clean water to feed. Lots of snouts up today. Its definitely still got a ways to go before it is back to to the crystal clear stream it is...think weeks / months ... but ... it's staring to fish very well. If you don't mind some cloudier water it's definitely time. And in the lower half of the creek clarity improves the whole way down as it's picking up feeder streams. Bottom end is quite fishable.

Spring is small stream time. Thompson is open and in great shape. Bull and Yaak 3rd Sat in May and will be fishable from day one.

Seeing hatches of March Browns and Caddis, Flying Ants and I saw the first Golden Stone of the season today. A bit early but in another 2 or 3 weeks the Stones and the Green / Grey Drakes will get rolling. Throw some bright colored streamers in the cloudy water. Or paddle / bring your boat and head up to the lake. Think sight casting for Pike.

We've had multiple reports of Bull Lake also fishing well. Bass and Pike are moving into the shallows getting ready to spawn and seeking out the cleaner water from springs and inflow. It still ain't pretty but the fish are there.

Kootenai is at 12 kcfs and fishing really well. Weather is perfect. Come stay a few nights and fish for a while. Remember...Spring Fling til the end of May. Stay 2 nights get the 3rd on us.

Here's what they are eating and a few pics. That first Cutty literally was less than 50 feet off the lodge deck. I have a bunch more from the Koot to edit and will post up the beginning of the week.

Hin't hin't...Senior guide KP's darling bride put on an absolute clinic on the Koot today. A 22 inch bow on a purple chubby? Yup...we got pics. See you Monday!

04/22/2026

How's it fishing Mr. Senior guide? Kelly and his better half and a report from the river.

Steady action in the warmer part of the day. Pats Rubber Legs and Prince nymphs as a trailer. Or Caddis and maybe a Black Stone or Flying Carpenter Ant on the sunnier days. March Browns too.

Lake Creek is clearing slowly still but just fishable in the lower reaches. I'm starting to see some cleaner water from Stanley creek help clear up our top end. First Caddis of the season the last 2 days. Bull and Yaak open 3rd Sat in May. Kootenai is in fine shape.

Time to fish. We're open and ready. Come relax for a few. 😉