We are really enjoying the atypically low flows right now. With the MO at around 4900 cfs (normally around 5800), the dry fly bite has been picking up significantly, and the cloudy days of late have resulted in some banner sessions. Weather dictates how many fish will be up, but a few devoted anglers are.. read more →

Missouri River Fishing Report:  It’s Spring on a high snow pack year so the MO is flowing heavy -more than twice the normal CFS.  It’s at 12,400 cfs today when “normally” (whatever that means these days) it’s at 5,500. They (the Dam people) are calling for 12,900 by this weekend.  The water out of the.. read more →

Worms, worms, and more worms……and I’m not talking about nightcrawlers! I’ve heard a lot of conflicting reports for the Smith the last couple weeks. Some people say they did ok, but not great; others are saying it was extremely slow. My group is fresh off the Smith, and to the slow and just ok reports,.. read more →

As we floated down the beautiful Smith River, most of us are more than ready to get our lines wet and fish hard. Personally, I just moved here from out of state, Alaska at that, so my knowledge of Montana consisted of only two things: one, Montana is a fly fishing state; and two, that.. read more →

What has spring sprung this season for Montana’s Streamflows?  I say, bring on the rain!..and high elevation snow. I attended the Upper Missouri Basin Advisory Committee annual meeting in April that presented information about our current snowpack conditions and predictions for Montana’s Streamflow Conditions for this season. I left excited, yet nervous about Montana’s streamflow conditions for.. read more →

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Northwest is supposed to experience above-normal temperatures this Winter. Although we are currently average in most of our regions for snowpack across the State according to today’s SNOWTEL Report by the Natural Resources Conservation service (NRCS), after a two-day hiatus Montana is again experiencing the more Spring-like temperatures and.. read more →

Just got off the Smith River on Wednesday and I’ll launch again Saturday.  I’m not sure if my laundry is going to dry between trips.  Not a problem, I love the smell of sweat and campfire smoke from a Smith River trip!  I’ve been guiding for Mike Geary of Lewis & Clark Expeditions for the past.. read more →

Primitive at best, the Smith River Montana meanders 59-miles through forested mountains, towering limestone canyon walls and green rolling hills from the put-in at Camp Baker to the take-out at Eden Bridge. If you are one of the lucky ones who scored a permit for this 5-day adventure, I hope you have a spectacular journey.. read more →

So, you are 1 out of over 6,000 permit applicants to win a Permit for the Smith River in Montana. Congratulations, you beat the 6-to-1 odds! Now you have 6,000 people who want to be your friend. Including the Permit Holder, only 15 people can float on one permit, so choose your friends wisely. And.. read more →

Normally a species in the Strainer family is not so casual.  However when rolling down a freestone river in a raft the Chris Strainer species feels wild and at home.   read more →