AFTER WAITING FOR OVER A YEAR, EIGHT OF US FLOATED THE BEAUTIFUL SMITH RIVER IN MONTANA. THIS WAS A MUCH ANTICIPATED ADVENTURE AS WE ALL HAD SEEN VIDEOS FROM PREVIOUS TRIPS AND WERE EXCITED ABOUT SEEING IT FIRSTHAND. WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED, WITH ONE EXCEPTION. DUE TO THE VERY HEAVY WINTER SNOWS AND COOL SPRING, THE RUNOFFS CONTINUED LATE AND THE RIVER WAS HIGH AND MUDDY. THE IMPACT OF THIS WAS THAT THERE WAS NO DRY FLY FISHING. BEING THAT THIS WAS A VERY EXPERIENCED GROUP OF ANGLERS, ADEPT AT NYMPHING, WE STILL CAUGHT A GOODLY NUMBER OF FISH. BESIDES THE UTTERLY SPECTACULAR SCENERY, WE ALSO ENJOYED GREAT WEATHER, CLEAR, SUNNY AND WARM, ALONG WITH A SUPER GROUP OF GUIDES AND CAMP TEAM. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TRIP!

BELOW YOU WILL FIND A SELECTION OF PHOTOS FROM THE TRIP

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

BEFORE LAUNCHING ON THE SMITH, THREE OF US (BERGREN, ERICKSON & McMULLEN) SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS FISHING THE MISSOURI BELOW CRAIG MONTANA. TWO DAYS FISHING IN HIGH WATER, BUT SOME NICE BIG FISH!

BLUE RIBBON MISSOURI ON THE MIZOO CRAIG'S 24" BROWN A MISSOURI BROWN

THE FOLLOWING ARE PHOTOS FROM OUR FIVE DAYS ON THE SMITH, STARTING WITH THE LAUNCH AT CAMP BAKER.

CAMP BAKER PUT-IN PREPARING TO LAUNCH PUSH OFF SCOT FISHING
ME ON THE BANK SMITH RIVER BROOK TROUT NOTE THE MUD FILLING WATER BOTTLES
 
GUIDE JOHN HOWARD FIRST CAMP SUNSET CLIFF COCKTAILS DINNER TIME
CANYON COUNTRY ALAN CHRISTIAN A FLOAT ABOUT TO BE RELEASED GEAR BOATS
TABLE ROCK PRETTY CAMP MATT ELLIOTT GIL MERCKEL NEARING TAKEOUT