A Kootenai River angler shows a burbot caught after dark, when the species is most active. Burbot, nicknamed “Kootenai leopards,” are moving toward shallow flats on the river ahead of their late‑winter spawn.
February 21, 2026
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February 26, 2026 1 a.m.
Burbot fishing is the perfect cure for cabin fever
The region's anglers looking to stave off cabin fever are encouraged to try burbot fishing on the Kootenai River Burbot are shifting from deep pools to shallower areas as winter spawning approaches.