Smith River Float Trip

Smith River Float Trip Overview

Most Beautiful Wilderness & Fishing Experience in the American West

The Smith River float trip is a perhaps the most stunningly beautiful stretch of wild wilderness in the lower forty-eight. Lewis & Clark’s five day float trips cover close to sixty miles of water and take advantage of beautiful camp sites along the route. The dramatic granite walls, seas of wildflowers, and lush green meadows line the Smith valley providing one of the prettiest and undisturbed venues in the state of Montana, and the river is chocked with happy and unsophisticated rainbow and brown trout. For over twenty years Mike and Lewis and Clark Expeditions has run the finest float/camp operation on the Smith.

Deluxe, Organized and Sophisticated Camping

The primary goals of Lewis and Clark Expeditions are providing the finest in staff, equipment and cuisine. Guides, cargo crew, and kitchen staff all work diligently on your behalf providing a safe, comfortable and clean camp. On each trip you will be well served with years of river experience both guiding and camping. The camps used by Lewis & Clark are far from “roughing it”, with hot showers, incredible meals, and first rate – well maintained equipment.

Consider Bringing the Family and/or Non-Angling Friends

Fishing is the predominant activity on a Smith River float trip; however these trips are the ultimate getaway for the family or group of mixed angling / non angling parties. Lewis and Clark guides act not only as fishing instructors, but also act as amazing historians, guide hiking excursions, and escort campers to view ancient Crow Indian cave pictographs. The Smith is perhaps the most scenic float in the American West, and hard-core fishing is not required to enjoy the wilderness and solitude. For this reason we encourage families and friends to invite their non-fishing companions to experience a camping and wilderness adventure they will never forget.

Smith River Float Trip Description

Based out of Helena, Montana, Lewis and Clark Expeditions is one of the lucky few outfits allotted permits on the fabled Smith River Float Trip. Helena, the capital of Montana, is the launching point for all Lewis and Clark adventures. Mike Geary, owner of Lewis and Clark Expeditions is perhaps one of the most eccentric and entertaining characters in the fly fishing industry. For over twenty years Mike and Lewis and Clark Expeditions has run the finest float/camp operation on the Smith.

The Smith River float trip is a perhaps the most stunningly beautiful stretch of wild wilderness in the lower forty-eight. Lewis & Clark’s five day float trips cover close to sixty miles of water and take advantage of beautiful camp sites along the route. The Smith offers a very fishing intensive experience for the most dedicated of anglers, but is also a great wilderness experience for couples of the whole family. Lewis & Clark has a very sophisticated camping program with quality equipment that guarantees comfort for guests of all ages and gender – and is designed to maximize the amount of fishing time on the river each day.

The Fishing

The Smith River is located approximately fifty miles to the east of the state capital of Helena and flows between the Big Belt and Little Belt mountain ranges of Southwestern Montana. The Smith offers the best combination of floating, fishing and camping in the lower United States. Heavily regulated, the Smith float is an extremely exclusive fishery permitted through the U.S. Forrest Service. A very small and select handful of licensed guides are allowed to float the Smith in its entirety. There are only two public boat launch sites on the entire length of the river. Furthermore, the state of Montana limits the number of people on the river through a stringent permit system. This insures two things, solitude and unpressured fishing. Lewis and Clark Expeditions is blessed to have access to perhaps the most beautiful and remote fishery in the lower forty-eight.

The five-day Smith River float trip takes anglers through sixty miles of free flowing water, 1000 foot isolated canyon walls and a disgusting number of eager brown and rainbow trout. The dramatic granite walls, seas of wildflowers, and lush green meadows line the Smith valley providing one of the prettiest and undisturbed venues in the state of Montana. While not known for trophy fish, the Smith does give up an occasional trophy upwards of 21-24 inches. The average size of these wild, rambunctious, hard fighting trout is in the 12-17 inch range.

The Smith River is extremely user friendly even for the most novice of anglers. This is one of the reasons we habitually recommend the Smith to beginners in search of an intensive adventure with friends or family who want to learn the art of fly fishing on a faster learning curve. You do not have to be an expert of any kind to have amazing success, and technical anglers will love finding new ways to tag fish after fish. Anglers spend most of the day fishing from the boat and casting into various types of water not accessible from the riverbank. Oftentimes boats will stop in certain areas conducive to wade fishing. Fishing tactics on the Smith vary with conditions. The rivers fish always react to large attractor style dry flies, especially early in the season when the stoneflies are out. Good hatches of mayflies and caddis keep the trout looking up after the stonefly hatch is done, and dragging a nymph or a streamer through the many pockets and runs is perhaps the deadliest technique on the Smith. Anglers cover a lot of water each day, however camps are set up strategically in areas conducive to fishing around in the evening after the float.

Accommodations

The primary goals of Lewis and Clark Expeditions are providing the finest in staff, equipment and cuisine. Guides, cargo crew, and kitchen staff all work diligently on your behalf providing a safe, comfortable and clean camp. On each trip you will be well served with years of river experience both guiding and camping. The camps used by Lewis & Clark are far from “roughing it”, with hot showers, incredible meals, and first rate – well maintained equipment.

A seven-man crew guides each trip. There are five fishing guides and two barge drivers who carry the entire camp and gear with them. Guests have no responsibility other than fishing. A typical day involves awaking around 7:00AM, having breakfast, and wade fishing the waters around camp. Meanwhile, the guides are packing up camp and the day's float begins. Upon the conclusion of the day's float, the fishing boats arrive at an already setup camp with sleeping bags unrolled, appetizers warm, wine corked, and dinner almost completed. The camp crew floats ahead of the anglers each day and takes care of all the camp setup and breakdown work as well as all of the cooking and cleaning. This is a first class trip where you don't have to do anything except relax and enjoy yourself and the spectacular surroundings.

On every Smith River trip Lewis and Clark provides guides, self bailing rafts, flies, leaders, cots, tents, thermo-rest pads, showers, fine wine, beer, great coffee, bottled water, sodas. The cooks take particular pride in their cuisine hoping to both surprise and delight the palate. Meals are very professionally prepared with full table settings in scenic areas and campfires are started every evening. The guides at Lewis and Clark Expeditions are handpicked and in class all their own --- all with dozens of trips down the river under their belt.

The Night Before You Launch – And the Night you are Off the River

Sanders House Bed and Breakfast (Smith & Missouri Rivers)
A great option while staying in town, and the recommended accommodation preceding launching a Smith River float trip. The most elegant place to stay in town with the best breakfast, the most congenial staff anywhere and the best bargain for your dollar. From the Sanders, anglers are 30 minutes from the Missouri River and a little over 1.5 hours to the Smith River launch.

Capacity: 8 Anglers Per Smith River Float

Travel

Numerous commercial airlines service Helena, Montana, with most travelers venturing through Salt Lake City with Delta Airlines and connect onward to Helena. A member of the Lewis & Clark staff will collect you at the airport and provide transportation to the Sanders House Bed and Breakfast.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Depart hometown for Helena, Montana. Spend the night in Helena in one of our recommended hotels. Most anglers stay at the Sanders House B&B. Mike will collect you at the airport and give you a rundown of the city as well as assist in finding one of Helena’s fine dining spots for that night.

Day 2

You are picked up at your hotel the following morning after breakfast for a ninety-minute drive to the put in at Camp Baker just west of White Sulphur Springs, MT. First of five remarkable fishing and camping days on the Smith.

Day 3-5

Three more full days fishing, camping, and exploring on the Smith River.

Day 6

Following a fifth full day of fishing, the group will then take out the last afternoon approximately fifteen miles above the confluence of the Smith and the Missouri near the town of Ulm, Montana. Anglers are then transferred ninety minutes back to Helena. Spend the night again in Helena at the Sanders House.

Day 7

Depart Helena for home City

When to Go

Lewis & Clark starts floats on the Smith every 2-3 days from early May through the middle of July. Picking the “best” time to float the Smith is a tough one. The regions snow pack plays a large role in the timing and significance of the spring runoff of course. However, later spring and summer rains can also play a factor in river conditions on any given day/week. Some seasons the river has peaked by early May and if fishing beautifully with large Stonefly hatches and friendly dry fly fishing. Other years the river can be running high and off-color early season, while the Smith could be running a bit low for a proper float in July. The good news about the Smith River is that even when the flows are a bit high or the water is off-color, there are always loads of fish to be caught with nymphs.

2011 RATES

5 Day / 4 Night Smith River Float Trip …………$3,600
*Rates are per person based on double occupancy per tent / two anglers per guide

What's Included
Five Days/Four Nights on Smith River; All meals and beverages; Double Occupancy Tent Camp Accommodations; Flies & terminal tackle, cots, tents, thermo-rest pads, showers, wine, beer, bottled water, sodas

What's Not Included
Airfare to Helena, Montana; Accommodations & Meals in Helena Nights Prior and Following Smith River Float; Gratuities; Fishing equipment (rods and reels)

Terms & Conditions

Tailwaters Travel must adhere to the cancellation policies of the guides, outfitters and lodges which it represents. Lewis & Clark Expeditions’ policy follows: A deposit of 50% is required to confirm a reservation and is due at the time of booking. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure. Deposits are refundable less a processing fee of $100/person if cancellation is made 120 days prior to departure. Thereafter the individual is responsible for the total land cost and no refund will be made unless client replacement is found. Refunds of deposits/payments made on credit cards will be charged a 3.5% service charge to fully compensate Tailwaters Travel for all bank charges incurred. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgement that registrant has read and accepts the cancellation, re

Consider Travel Insurance!

Given the inherent strict refund policies associated with nearly all fishing packages, we cannot stress the importance of obtaining travel insurance to protect your investment. Travelers can obtain coverage for pre-existing health problems (related to yourself, your family, business partners, or your traveling partners), emergency evacuation, lost baggage, delay, life insurance packages; even “no questions asked” or “for work reasons” coverage.

We will provide you with more detailed information about travel insurance from our sponsored provider, Travel Guard, when you book a trip with Tailwaters Travel. We can conveniently process a very comprehensive insurance policy for you in-house after asking a few simple questions.

Call today to protect your investment: (888) 824-5420

Please review our Policies & Cancellations section.

Non-Angling Activities

Fishing is the predominant activity on a Smith River float trip, however these trips are the ultimate getaway for the family or group of mixed angling / non angling parties. Lewis and Clark guides act not only as fishing instructors, but also act as amazing historians, guide hiking excursions, and escort campers to view ancient Crow Indian cave pictographs. The Smith is perhaps the most scenic float in the American West, and hard-core fishing is not required to enjoy the wilderness and solitude. For this reason we encourage families and friends to invite their non-fishing companions to experience a camping and wilderness adventure they will never forget.

The city if Helena also offers a myriad of summer outdoor and indoor activities, restaurants, and plenty of sightseeing for non-anglers while a companion is off fishing. White water rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, and exploring town are only a few.

Participate in the Wounded Warriors Program!

Mike Geary is perhaps the most philanthropic human being we have ever met. Exemplary of this selflessness, Mike has played an enormous role in organizing gratis fishing trips for our disabled veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. In conjunction with the non-profit, “Project Healing Waters”, every season Mike and his guides raise money and donate their time to taking a group of eight soldiers down the Smith. In addition to the annual Smith Veterans trip, Mike also helps us organize our annual “Wounded Warriors” trip to the Rio Grande River near Creede, Colorado – where Tailwaters Staff have guided disabled vets from the veterans hospital in Fort Carson each of the last three summers.