Big rainbow trout have been a frequent catch for Lake Koocanusa anglers this winter and last weekend the same was true for those in the 24th annual Lake Koocanusa Resort and Marina Fishing Derby.

Resort owner Randy Burch said big rainbows have been regularly caught all winter.

"We thought there might be more caught, but the weather wasn't the best and that affected the fishing to some degree, but overall, it was still a good tourney," Burch said. 

Saturday saw Libby native Kathi Garrison weigh in an 8-pound, 15-ounce trout that was a shade under 9 pounds. It held up as the overall winner. Garrison, who moved to Colville, Washington, for work, was all smiles as she displayed the winning fish.

Rick Maness had the No. 2 trout, weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Danielle Topp's 8 pound, seven ounce 'bow was third. Easton Gilmore boated an 8-pound, 4-ounce rainbow, good for fourth place, and Terry Frazer's 8-pound, 3-ounce fish was fifth.

Libby's Rick Eby also landed a nice trout, weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces. Thirteen-year-old Andie Alsup, of Libby, caught a trout that weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces.

Ninety-seven boats and 264 anglers registered. Burch said the higher cost of gas and diesel fuel as well as the predicted weather cut down on the anglers, particularly those who target Kokanee salmon while fishing in smaller boats.

Burch was appreciative of all the donors and sponsors that contributed to the door prizes. 

"Wes Gilmore of Ace Hardware let us borrow his side-by-side, I donated the gas and Mitch Fahland drove it up and down the ramp so anglers could get a little break from the walk between the launch and resort, so that proved to be a nice addition to the derby," Burch said. "We also had sizable contributions from Alpine Precision, City Service Propane, Lowe's and Big Sky."

Burch said the kokanee salmon were on the smallish side this year with about 20 in the 3-pound range.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks were collecting the heads of rainbow trout that weren't going to be mounted in an effort to determine fish age and the strain of trout. It is part of a long-term monitoring project. 

According to FWP data, Gerrard-strain rainbows have been stocked since 2010. Before that, Ennis-Kamloops strain were stocked from 1995 to 2009.

    Libby's Andie Alsup, a seventh-grade student, displays a trout she caught Saturday, May 16, 2026, during the 24th annual Lake Koocanusa Resort Fishing Derby. The fish weighed five pounds, six ounces. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby resident Rick Eby was fishing with Robin Swimley Saturday, May 16, 2026, during the 24th annual Lake Koocanusa Resort Fishing Derby when he landed this 7-pound, 12-ounce trout. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)