AB, MS & GK up early…..well we left the Riverhouse at 8:30….while AM & JR sleep in. AM & JR plan to fish the Yaak below Hellroaring Creek today while GK, MS & AB plan to return to a great looking area on the Kootenai between Libby & Troy where we’d talked to three old fellas the day before who’d been fishing the area the day before with good success using spinning gear.

The Kootenai at this point (this is about milepost 25) runs through a narrow bolder filled slot producing a huge chute of whitewater rapids. There were several boulder filled side-channels, deep pools and islands in the area. We carefully descended the steep bank near the area we parked, crossed the RR tracks, then down a huge boulder filled riprap area. MS & GK went upstream, AB tried a side-channel near the trail end. AB soon realized that the hole would be better fished from the other side of the stream, which required a long walk down the RR tracks, another scramble down a huge riprap bank and some wading to get to the island. Along the way AB fished a couple nice chutes flowing into deep pools. The Royal Stimulator/Pheasant-tail bead dropper rig quickly produced several 12 to 14" Rainbows. Crawling thru the thick willows on the island brought AB to the opposite side of the side channel he was fishing earlier. A couple casts produced another nice Rainbow, followed by a couple more.

AM & JR called AB on the radio; they’d spotted the van on their way up to the Yaak and asked how we were doing. They walked down to where AB was fishing to get the fishing report and they continued up the road on the way to the Yaak River for their day of fishing.

AB called GK & MS on the radio, "How’s it going guys?" GK chose his spinning rod, casting spinners in the swift part of the main river. He’d had two massive strikes, seen the large fish jump, then proceed to snap his 6 lb. line. Later MS discovered that the drag on his spinning reel was a bit too tight. Too bad, sounds like he had a couple nice fish on. MS reported catching a few rainbows, but fishing was a bit slow. At that time a large black cloud blocked out the sun and the wind rose to gusts of 30 mph making fly casting very difficult….in fact, it was hard to keep your hat on! AB & MS joined forces on a side channel and caught a few more fish before the wind blew us totally off the river. We returned to the Mountain Grill in Libby for lunch and proceeded to the spot downstream of the Riverhouse that we’d visited earlier.

Returning on the road to the Riverhouse, we end up in a parking lot with a Game Department access trail. Walking down the well developed trail we came across a sign that pointed out the huge, rugged cliffs to our right, a Game Department preserve area for Rocky Mountain Sheep. We didn’t see any sheep on the cliffs this day, but the area was truly spectacular. Past an abandoned apple orchard, we sample an apple from the trees that are loaded with apples. Ummm….good apples.

GK, MS & AB began fishing and it wasn’t long before AB hooked up on a nice 14" Rainbow that grabbed a rubber-legged Stimulator, followed by several more trout, some smaller. GK & MS raise a few fish but haven’t hooked up. We were a bit disappointed that the gravel bar above the spot we were fishing wasn’t accessible, the side-channel was too deep/rapid to wade, as the riffles on the main stem river along the gravel bar looked very good.

AM & JR call on the radio as they are returning from the Yaak River and are still on the main highway but opposite of where we were fishing. After ascertaining where we are, they walked down to get the fishing report. They had a good day on the Yaak and had found pretty good fishing further downstream from the Hellroaring Creek pullout. Walking the Yaak was difficult, big loose rocks covered with moss. JR headed inland trying to find easier walking thru the woods, only to find lots of downed timber, deep grass and huge unseen holes, most of which he managed to fall in. Later he said he wasn’t sure if he was going to make it out alive. The fishing started when we had gone downstream from Hell Roaring Creek to the end of the Island – fishing at the confluence was very productive for 10-13 inch rainbows who really wanted to taste the dry flies!! Pattern did not seem too important but we kept the sizes in the 14 – 16 range.

We fished down the stream for about ½ mile (probably ¾ mile from Hell Roaring Creek) and it was all good. We then ran into a fenced area and huge pool of slack water that was not really fishable from where we were standing. Rather wade back up stream with all the slippery rocks and difficulties JR had in coming overland, we elected to strike out orthogonal to the stream and parallel the fenced area (which was posted) back to the highway and then walk it back to the Jeep. Well we found an elk trail –that was good. The elk don’t seem to care much about getting caught up in deep mud – that is bad. After a certain amount of expletives, we finally reached the road (took about 20 minutes). From their it was an easy walk along the highway to the car. We saw a cross with a person’s picture on it – we photographed it but don’t know the story at the time but later found the obituary at http://www.kvpress.com/obituaries/2005/0423falck.htm .

The crosses are put up at sites of fatal car accidents by the State. They get removed (and then repopulated) when a section of road is repaved. Lots of crosses back in these areas we noted!!

All headed back to the Riverhouse where AB, GK & MS fish the river behind the house. AB rolled a few nice fish, misses a few more and landed one using Royal Trude, Stimulator, Elk-hair Caddis, Ant, & Beetle patterns. MS also has a couple good rises but no hookups. A large beaver with a mouth full of willow branches swam past AB while he was standing in the river. Fish are feeding heavily and darkness closes in before we dial in the right fly presentation.

AM, JR & GK headed into town for dinner at the Antlers (meatloaf!!) while AB & MS had moose sausage, cheese & crackers for dinner after coming off the river after dark. GK, MS decide they’d like to drift the upper Kootenai after hearing of the big fish that AM & JR had caught on their trip. JR & AM also decide to return to the upper Kootenai for another drift. AM called Tim to make reservations for two boats and two of the Linehan Outfitters Yaak cabins later in the week.