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Check the exact reach, date, and hours before deciding.
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Fly fishing report · West
Smith River Fishing Report — Montana
Is Smith River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Montana before you go.
See the flow chart ↓Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Good day to fish?Check needed
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Verify
Check the official notice before fishing.
Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the Smith River covers North and South Fork confluence downstream to Eden Bridge. The notice needs a new check with the agency. Fishing tips stay hidden until you check it.
Checked just nowRead the notice below
Check neededWait before fishing
Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the Smith River covers North and South Fork confluence downstream to Eden Bridge. The notice needs a new check with the agency. Fishing tips stay hidden until you check it.
Restrictions and advisories
Check Smith River before fishing.
These notices match this river report. No notice here does not mean the river is open. Always check the agency before you fish.
Last known active — check nowOfficial restrictionLegal closure
Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the Smith River
- Area
- North and South Fork confluence downstream to Eden Bridge
- Link checked
- Link status
- Checked through Aug 12, 2026, 9:02 PM MDT
- Check again by
- Starts
- Daily hours
- Daily, 14:00–24:00 (America/Denver)
- Repeats
- Daily from 2:00 p.m. to midnight
What to know about this notice
The affected reach substantially overlaps the Camp Baker-to-Eden report corridor; the restriction remains time-specific.
The Camp Baker-to-Eden report corridor lies within the named fork-confluence-to-Eden reach.
Your plan
Check the notice first.
Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the Smith River covers North and South Fork confluence downstream to Eden Bridge. The notice needs a new check with the agency. Fishing tips stay hidden until you check it.
Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the Smith River: North and South Fork confluence downstream to Eden Bridge
Live river check
What the river is doing
Check the latest flow and weather before you go. A quick change can make the river harder or less safe to fish.
Showing the latest stored river check while current readings load.
- Flow
- 90 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air now
- 76°F
Current NWS forecast period
- Next 24h high
- 86.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 19%
For this forecast period
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wind
- 7 mph
- Weather checked
Recent flow chart is loading
The latest stored reading is shown above. Check the official source below if you need the newest value now.
More forecast and source details
National Weather Service
Smith River near Eden forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Smith River near Eden
How to fish it
Fishing advice is paused.
Use the official notice and current conditions instead of fishing advice.
Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the Smith River covers North and South Fork confluence downstream to Eden Bridge. The notice needs a new check with the agency. Fishing tips stay hidden until you check it.
What to try
Fly choices are paused.
Check the restriction or advisory before choosing flies or tactics.
Seasonal fly and tactic guidance stays hidden while this stop or unverified notice applies.
Access and safety
Smith River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter. Check Montana fishing rules plus the current Smith River permit-holder rules before packing. A valid fishing license is separate from Smith River float authorization.
Camp Baker
The managed put-in for the permitted Smith River float area.
Eden Bridge
The managed take-out for the 59-mile Smith River area.
Assigned boat camps
Use the camp schedule and FWP instructions. Do not invent camps on private or fragile ground.
A Smith River trip is not a casual day float. FWP requires permits and fees for the managed area, and floaters need to follow registration and camp procedures.
FWP highlights food storage, human-waste, aquatic-invasive-species, and travel-in-bear-country requirements for permit holders.
Private-land boundaries, limited exits, and remote weather mean the safest plan is conservative even when the fishing looks good.
River sources
Official Smith River sources.
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This Smith River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS Eden flow data, Montana FWP Smith River corridor and permit-holder information, restricted-use river permit guidance, fishing-access information, weather, generated-image disclosure, and permit-managed float trout planning sources.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
See all 8 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
Quick answers
Check the official notice first.
Fishing tips stay hidden until the official notice is clear.