Montana ·
Smith River Fly Fishing Report - November 1, 2026
SMITH RIVER
ReportNOV 1 — 8, 2026
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Flow
151CFS
Smith River bl Eagle Cr nr Fort Logan MT
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-11-01
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Weather
28–45°F
Areas Of Fog
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
The Smith is flowing at 151 cfs with a gauge height of 3.26 ft — low, gin-clear fall conditions that reward stealthy approaches and fine tippet. Rain and snow moving in today will likely bump flows and briefly color the water by Monday, so fish hard this morning before conditions shift.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
BWO WD-40 #22
22
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
22
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
12
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
12
Egan's Frenchie #12
12
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
18
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
6
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
14
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Heavy | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Caddis | 16-18 | Light | 1 PM - 4 PM |
| Stonefly (Little Brown) | 12-14 | Light | 10 AM - 1 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 10 AM: Early midge activity in slower pools and tailouts — fish deep with the Zebra Midge and Peacock Blowtorch before fog lifts.
- 10 AM - 2 PM: Prime BWO hatch window during the warmest part of the day — watch for rising fish in flats and tailouts and switch to emergers and dries.
- 3 PM - Dusk: Streamer hour as light fades — swing or strip the Sparkle Minnow through deep pools and undercut banks for aggressive fall browns.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith the Smith at 151 cfs and gin-clear, your approach is everything — stay low, wade slowly, and keep your shadow off the water. Fish the deepest slots and undercut banks with your nymph rig set to tick bottom, and drop to 6X fluorocarbon tippet for the small midge and BWO patterns. Rain arrives today and will likely bump flows and add a touch of color by tonight or tomorrow — if you see the water start to color up even slightly, switch to the Sparkle Minnow or Jig Bugger and work the inside seams where fish will stack up to ambush disoriented baitfish. Monday's clearing skies and rising flows could set up an exceptional window, so plan to be on the water early.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
