2026 regulation year
Kootenai River 2026 — Montana Fishing Regulations
Montana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Kootenai River carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Montana's 2026 fishing rules. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Bull trout closed (release immediately); Libby Dam to Highway 37 bridge rainbow trout 1 / day, 28 in minimum (open June 1 – Feb 28); Highway 37 bridge to the Idaho border rainbow 4 / day (3 under 13 in + only 1 over 18 in); brown trout no limit — all browns between Libby Dam and Kootenai Falls must be killed + reported (invasive); burbot catch-and-release
Source: Montana special-water list
Official source
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Montana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Montana fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Montana trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Montana
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Kootenai River?
- Kootenai River carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Montana's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "Bull trout closed (release immediately); Libby Dam to Highway 37 bridge rainbow trout 1 / day, 28 in minimum (open June 1 – Feb 28); Highway 37 bridge to the Idaho border rainbow 4 / day (3 under 13 in + only 1 over 18 in); brown trout no limit — all browns between Libby Dam and Kootenai Falls must be killed + reported (invasive); burbot catch-and-release." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Kootenai River?
- Yes. Kootenai River is in Montana, so a valid Montana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Kootenai River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.
- Do Kootenai River's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Kootenai River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.