Just found out got a float permit for the Smith launch Jun 13th. Always a crap shoot when to put in,even more to recieve one!
That's a great date if the flows hold up. Go for the float primarily and put fish catching down the list. That's not to say the fishing will suck, it's only to say the great scenery is a given, the fish depends on too many to count variables. Trapper
Good for you, denied. I suppose after being invited on someone else's permit last year, they track those names to see who actually floats, and denies them if chosen for their own permit, at least that's what my cynical thoughts are telling me... Great trip!
Don't despair, Greg. I also kept my record intact, unfortunately. I'm hoping my buddy scored. If not, we will try to get a last minute one. Damn! If I ever score one, I'll PM you.
We've got a June 19 launch, can't believe it. I've been on quite a few April trips, but this will be a first for the "prime" time. Anyone ever caught the Brown Drake hatch in there? Suppose I should be prepared, any suggestions? Thanks! Bob
Mid June should be a mixed bag of hatches from a few goldens to PMDs to Caddis. It won't be the same from put in to take out so show up with a variety of attractors, terrestrials, nymphs, and the 4 order patterns, plus SJWs, and buggers. There are a lot of Sculpins in the Smith and some monster browns.
Skookum! Those are not easy to get. Take lots of pictures...we will be expecting a prompt, complete report.
Thanks MT Trapper for the tips, its always been a junk box/streamer trip for me, looking forward to the potential of dry fly fishing.
One of my favorite Smith River campsites - Lower Givens. It makes for a really great last night on the river campsite. The only downside is the last half of the last day of the 60 miles float is always such a let down. As you leave the canyon and return to civilization it's a bit on the depressing side. Trapper
First year putting in for a permit, and I drew 7/7/13. We did an outfitter trip in 2011 the same week, and it was still high/off color and just becoming fishable. We still did really well. Has anyone fished the Smith in early July during a more typical year? Beautiful picture of Givens, will try to score that one this year. I've attempted to add of photo of Lower Rattlesnake, where we camped the last night of the 2011 trip.
I guided the Smith for several years and I have no idea what a typical year is any more. It's all about flows, which are all about snow pack, which is all about climate. If we have a warmer than average winter, late winter, or early spring, or if we get <avg precip, it translates into low snow pack which means you'll likely be dragging your raft down parts of the river, but especially above Tenderfoot. This latest drought has been ongoing since the late 1990s except for a few anomalies like 2011. Since the late 1990s our winters are nothing like they used to be. The sub zero 2 - 3 week stretches and minus 20 to minus 30 nights are just a memory. This translates to low snowpack because it melts off in late winter or early Spring. That frozen reservoir of ice and snow isn't there until late June like it used to be. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that this year the flows in early July will make for a tough float. Pack light, spread your group out into more boats, and don't even think about using a hard sided boat. But, keep a close eye on this website: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/precup-graph.pl?state=MT If the snowpack stays near the >120% Avg range until late April and the weather stays <Avg highs, your chances of decent flows goes way up. Trapper
