Smith River Fly Fishing Trips
Smith River fly fishing, could it get much better? The last half of May, June, and the first week of July is the time to float fish the Smith River. We try to do a trip or two here each year. This is a 60-mile, 5-day trip through a mini “Grand Canyon”. The scenery throughout the length of the river is absolutely breathtaking! It can be a challenge to keep your eyes on your fly due to the distracting scenery! For most of the trip, you float between sheer towering cliffs impregnated in places with crystals, and in a couple of places ornamented with Indian paintings and dotted with eagle and osprey nests. It’s common to see deer, black bears, an occasional elk, and all kinds of waterfowl and other birds.
How Is The Smith River Fly Fishing?
The fishing is usually fantastic! The bug hatches are prolific and numerous, triggering frantic fish-feeding frenzies! Golden Stoneflies, Salmonflies, Mayflies, and Caddis are tops on the fish’s menu. There is a strong population of Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout in the Smith River that enable most anglers to enjoy great success with dry flies, nymphs, and streamers alike. A good many Smith River trout exceed 18 to 22 inches!
Where Is The Smith River?
The Smith River Flows between the Big Belt and Little Belt mountain ranges. The trip begins at “Camp Baker” 26 miles or so from White Sulfur Springs, and ends at “Eden Bridge” 25 miles or so from Ulm, on I-15 just south of Great Falls.
Smith Trips are run in cooperation with and under Lewis and Clark National Forest Service Special Permit Holder and outfitter Mike Geary, owner of Lewis and Clark Expeditions. For more information about the Smith River click here.
Ready to come fish the Smith yet? Contact us today!