Troy, Kootenai River & Lake Koocanusa Fishing Report — Week of October 15, 2026

Cold weekend weather cleared the boats off the Helena reservoirs, but shore trout stayed hot — and with stable weather ahead, Canyon Ferry’s south-end walleye bite should ramp back up. Here’s the latest from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and northwest Montana shops, date-stamped so you know what’s current. Kokanee snagging at the Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir stays open through October 31.

Helena-area reservoirs (FWP)

Source: Troy Humphrey and Chris Hurley, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Independent Record Helena-area report for the week of October 12, 2026 (published October 13), matching the FISHMT waterbody reports for the week of October 12–13, 2026.

Canyon Ferry: Anglers were absent this past weekend due to the weather. With stable weather on the horizon, look for the walleye bite to pick up again on the south end. Troll bottom bouncers with pink spinners and a worm harness, or pink and gold crankbaits, in 10 to 15 feet around Ponds 1 and 2 and between the river mouth and Pond 4. Rainbow action should stay good with cooling water — cowbells, lures, or traditional walleye gear throughout the reservoir; shore fishing with a hook and worm is producing as well.

Hauser: Cold weather kept most boat anglers away. Trout action continues good near the shorelines at the Causeway, below Canyon Ferry Dam, and near Spokane Creek on nightcrawlers and marshmallows, or leech-pattern flies. A few walleye from shore on marabou jigs or slip bobbers and leeches. Underneath York Bridge and the Causeway area have been good walleye spots.

Holter: Most boat anglers stayed off the water this weekend. Trout fishing has been great from shore at the Gates of the Mountains, the BLM campground near the dam, and Departure Point on nightcrawlers and a marshmallow, PowerBait, or leech-pattern flies. Look for a good walleye and perch bite to continue inside the Canyon, Cottonwood Creek, and near the Clay Banks while jigging in 25 to 40 feet.

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee snagging has been going well, and anglers are seeing larger fish this year. Season opened September 1 and runs through October 31. Limits: 35 salmon daily / 70 in possession.

Northwest Montana (local to Troy country)

Kootenai River (Linehan Outfitting report dated October 6, 2026, carried by Montana Outdoor on October 8 — still the freshest published shop report for this stretch): Holding steady in great fall form. Libby Dam had dropped releases to about 4,000 cfs, expected to hold through the end of the month and likely into November — excellent wading access. Water temps below the dam around 55 degrees; fish keyed on midges, baetis, caddis, and terrestrials. Still a single-dry-fly game — size 12 Chubbies, stimulators, and water walkers; if they refuse the big stuff, drop to a #16 purple or parachute Adams, with a perdigon dropper (Uke’s brown bug) as a reliable trailer. For one quality fish, swing streamers — meat-stick season is here.

USGS gauge 12301933 (Kootenai River below Libby Dam): most recent instantaneous discharge 4,240 cfs at 6:00 AM MDT on October 15, 2026 (provisional). USGS statistics for October 15 put that between the 25th percentile (4,140 cfs) and the median (5,960 cfs) for the date — still in the low, wade-friendly range Linehan described.

Flathead Lake, Noxon, Bull Lake, and Lake Koocanusa: no newer published multi-water shop roundup found for October 8–15. Last Flathead-area multi-water report on Montana Outdoor was Chancy’s Fish Camp as of September 25. Fresh note for the Flathead system: Chancy’s Fall Whitefish Festival opened October 12 and runs through November 21 on the Flathead River and tributaries (weigh-ins at Chancy and Dave’s Fish Camp in Evergreen). Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake continues through November 8. Ask at the counter for the latest local intel on Noxon, Bull Lake, and Koocanusa.

Elsewhere worth a look

Missouri River below Holter (Cameron Lawrence compiled report dated October 10, 2026, drawing on The Trout Shop, Headhunters, and Wolf Creek Angler updates of October 8–9): Flows about 3,050–3,060 cfs; water 59 degrees at the dam. Clear, weeds thinning. Sows and worms remain staples; size-16 and -18 Tailwater Sows have been moving; a few more size-18 Blue-Winged Olives among the small olives — dry-fly fishing picking up but not yet steady (shops say mid-50s water temps unlock that). Streamers over flats and buckets, especially in unsettled weather. No FWP restriction on the Missouri.

Fort Peck (Don Wilkins weekly report dated October 9, 2026, via Montana Outdoor October 9): Pike moving shallower into weed beds — spoons, shallow-running crankbaits, and buzz baits all worked last week. Smallmouth still on deeper rocks in 20–30 feet (1/8–1/4-ounce jigs with plastics/minnows or slip bobbers and minnows), with some nicer fish also showing up shallow while casting spoons for pike. Lake trout still roaming day to day; a cold front should drop surface temps and start pushing lakers shallow. Salmon only occasionally in the bays — last week’s warmer stretch kept them out for the most part; colder temps should help bring them back.

Bighorn River (Bighorn Angler, October 9, 2026): Classic autumn transition. Bighorn Lake turnover has put some greener water in the river; overall fishing a bit tougher as trout adjust, and caddis hatches are fading. Lean on nymphs when it’s technical — Tailwater Sowbugs, orange scuds, Pete’s Carpet Bug, Red Bead Ray Charles, Hare’s Ears, CDC Pheasant Tails, Nightmare Jigs, Duracells, Frenchies, Blowtorch Jigs. Streamer bite picking up on overcast, foul-weather days (Pete’s Bugger, Goldies, Rusty Trombones, leeches, Bighorn Buggers).

Madison River (River’s Edge, Bozeman — report dated October 12, 2026, via Montana Outdoor October 14): Upper Madison about 897 cfs at Kirby. Some sections fishing well; town water by Ennis called out as a sure bet — streamers under cut banks and around the trees. Suggested box: Barred Mini Dungeon Yellow #6, Black/Brown Rubberlegs #12, Pink Frenchie #16, Grey Little Green Machine #20, 401k Baetis #18. Separately, a Southwest Montana / Fly Fish Food note dated October 7 (carried October 9) had the Madison below Hebgen around 778 cfs and 57.2°F, with browns and rainbows migrating out of Hebgen into the park stretch — early starts and streamers on unsettled days.

Gear & regs reminder

Grab bait, tackle, and tags at Booze ’N Bait (315 E Missoula Ave #1, Troy). Always confirm current Montana FWP fishing regulations before you go — seasons, limits, and water-specific exceptions change.

Report compiled October 15, 2026 from FWP Helena-area updates (week of Oct. 12), Linehan/Montana Outdoor Kootenai coverage, USGS Libby Dam gauge data, and published Missouri, Fort Peck, Bighorn, and Madison shop reports. Conditions change fast — this is a snapshot, not a guarantee.

Sources Helena-area fishing report for week of Oct. 12 (Independent Record, Oct. 13, 2026) — Troy Humphrey & Chris Hurley, FWP Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report 10.13.26 (Montana Outdoor, Oct. 13, 2026) FISHMT Canyon Ferry Lake fishing report, week of 10/12/2026 FISHMT Hauser Reservoir fishing report, week of 10/13/2026 FISHMT Holter Reservoir fishing report, week of 10/13/2026 FISHMT Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir fishing report, week of 10/13/2026 It’s Still Golden on the Kootenai (Montana Outdoor, Oct. 8, 2026; Linehan Oct. 6) USGS 12301933 Kootenai River below Libby Dam — instantaneous discharge Oct. 15, 2026 Missouri River Fishing Report, October 10, 2026 (Cameron Lawrence) Don Wilkins’ Weekly Fort Peck MT Fishing Report 10.9.26 (Montana Outdoor, Oct. 9, 2026) Bighorn River Fishing Report 10/9 (Bighorn Angler, Oct. 9, 2026) Upper Madison — River’s Edge via Montana Outdoor (Oct. 14 / report Oct. 12) Madison below Hebgen — Fly Fish Food via Montana Outdoor (Oct. 9 / report Oct. 7) Montana FWP fishing regulations

Gear up at Booze ‘N Bait: bait & tackle · Montana fishing licenses · sporting goods · liquor store — 315 E Missoula Ave #1, Troy, MT · (406) 295-4415