Smith River Float Trips
Travel & Tackle Guide

Welcome to your Fly Water Travel trip guide. We’re excited to help you prepare for your upcoming adventure! Inside, you’ll find everything you need: your to-do list, travel logistics, destination notes, and a curated tackle guide tailored to your trip.

Getting Ready

We’ve created a quick checklist of essential tasks to make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. If questions come up or you need anything at all, just give us a call, we’re here to help every step of the way.

To-Do List:

✓ Arrange flights to/from Helena, Montana

✓ Arrange lodging in Helena, Montana

✓ Purchase fishing license and send Fly Water Travel a copy

✓ Let us know if you would like to use a sleeping bag and pillow provided by the outfitter

Smith River Float Trips
Travel Guide

From how to get there and what documents you’ll need to tipping guidelines and destination details, this section covers the practical information to ensure smooth travels.

Getting to the Smith River:
To get to the Smith River, guests need to arrange travel to Helena, Montana and overnight. Guests will be picked up at their hotel and transferred to the river the next morning.

Hotel Recommendation in Helena, MT
Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel
835 Great Northern Blvd
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406.457.5500

Arrival Day:
Guests are asked to arrive in Helena the night before their trip and overnight. Guests will be picked up at their hotel at approximately 6:30 AM on their launch day and transferred to the river.

Departure Day:
Guests will arrive back in Helena at approximately 5:00 PM on the day they take off the river.

Travel Cash:
We recommend each guest travel with enough cash for staff and guide gratuities.

Credit Cards:
The outfitter does not accept credit cards

Gratuities:
We recommend guide and staff gratuities of approximately 12% - 20% of your package price. Tips are pooled and can be given to the head guide at the end of your trip. Cash and checks are accepted.

Fishing Licenses:
Anglers must purchase licenses ahead of time. Licenses can be purchased at https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/fishinglicenses

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:
There is no cell coverage or Wi-Fi connection while on the river.

Power and Communications:
There is no power available. Guests using CPAP machines are asked to bring a travel machine and battery backups.

Laundry:
Laundry service is not available. Please pack accordingly.

Water:
Water is available and the outfitter will stop at freshwater springs to replenish drinking water.

Beverages/Alcohol:
The outfitter provides beer and wine as well as mixers and non-alcoholic drinks. Guests may bring in their own hard liquor if desired.

Emergency Medical Assistance:
The nearest medical center is located in Helena or Great Falls.

Recommended Medical Evacuation Carrier and Insurance Provider:
Global Rescue - https://partner.globalrescue.com/fwtravel/index.html

Smith River Float Trips
Tackle Guide

Here you’ll find everything you need to be ready on the water. You’ll find our preferred setups, favorite flies, recommended packing list, and notes on tackle available at the lodge.

Smith River Float Fishing Tackle Overview

For floating and fishing Montana's Smith River, a 9-foot 5-weight rod is the undisputed workhorse, offering the perfect balance for dry flies, light nymph rigs, and small streamers. However, a 9-foot 6-weight is a fantastic alternative for anglers looking for extra backbone to punch through canyon winds, turn over heavy streamers, and manage bulky dry-dropper rigs with ease.

Pair your rod with a reliable trout reel featuring a smooth drag. Make sure you have enough spool capacity for your floating line and at least 100 yards of backing. While a standard weight-forward floating line is the most common choice, a double taper line is also well-suited for the technical mending and delicate presentations required on this river.

When it comes to terminal tackle, stick with 7.5- to 9-foot leaders tapered to 5X, and keep a range of 3X to 6X tippet material on hand. Fluorocarbon is highly recommended for its stealth and durability, though we always remind guests to pack out any discarded clippings to keep these pristine waters clean.

Waders are a must to have on hand. Montana weather shifts quickly and can often be unstable during the Smith River season. Pair them with rubber-soled wading boots. However, for floats during warmer summer weather, guests are welcome to bring wet wading gear (such as quick-dry pants and neoprene socks) along with boat shoes.

Non-studded footwear is required on the rafts, as studs can damage the boat floors.

Smith River Float Primary Setup

You can’t beat a 9-foot 5-weight on the Smith River. It handles delicate dry-fly work when fish are sipping in the calm runs, but carries plenty of backbone for casting weighted stonefly nymphs in high wind. It offers the perfect mix of control and leverage, helping you line up precise drift-boat presentations and play large trout efficiently without tiring them out.

1 5

Smith River Float Secondary Setup

As a secondary setup, a 9-foot 6-weight gives you the extra horse-power needed for the Smith's bigger water tactics. It shines when punching heavy streamer setups or double-nymph rigs against tight canyon banks, especially on windy afternoons. It turns over heavy flies with ease and provides plenty of leverage to quickly control and land the river's larger rainbows and browns.

1 4


Support Your Local Fly Shop

If you need assistance with assembling your gear for your upcoming travels, we encourage you to support your local fly shop. This curated list of tackle is handpicked for your destination by our experts and can serve as your shopping list to get your ready for your next adventure. Find your local Far Bank dealer.

Smith River Float Trips Flies

The guides have an excellent assortment of the most effective flies and they supply them as part of your package price. With that said, you are welcome to bring along as few or as many of your own flies as you like.

If you would like to pack your own box, five regional favorites for the Smith River include

  • Chubby Chernobyl
  • Parachute Adams
  • Plan B
  • Elk Hair Caddis
  • Bead-Head Woolly Bugger

Please feel free to call Fly Water Travel for assistance in putting together a selection of flies best suited to your trip.

Suggested Packing List

We understand packing for an adventure is not easy. On a trip like this it is very important to have everything you need and nothing you do not. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the camps is neat but casual.

Documents:
Passport, plane tickets, itinerary, credit card, cash, business cards

Socks:
Four pairs of wool or synthetic socks to wear under your waders. Two pairs of town socks.

Base layers:
One to two pairs of synthetic or merino wool long underwear (tops and bottoms) to wear beneath your waders. One mid-weight and one heavyweight. These can be worn alone or together depending on conditions.

Shirts:
Two or three long sleeve fishing shirts. One or two lodge shirts.

Pants:
One to two pairs of long pants

Shorts:
One pair of quick-dry shorts

Warm Layers:
One or two warm insulating layers. Down, synthetic or fleece mid layers are good options. Avoid cotton.

Warm Jacket:
One warm jacket

Rain Jacket:
One high quality rain jacket

Gloves:
One pair of sun gloves and one pair of warm fishing gloves

Waders/Boots:
Lightweight breathable waders are recommended for all trips. Some guests choose not to wear waders during the warm summer months. Neoprene socks are recommended when wet wading.

Hats:
Two fishing/baseball hats. One warm cap.

Shoes:
One pair of sturdy walking shoes. One pair of boat shoes.

Buff:
One “Buff” facial sun protector (good for bugs too)

Sunglasses:
One pair of polarized sunglasses. It is great to have a lens cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth as well.

Sunscreen:
One bottle SPF 30+

Lip Balm:
One tube of SPF 30+ lip balm

Headlamp:
One small LED headlamp with batteries

Camera:
Camera with extra batteries

Toiletries Kit:
Toothpaste and toothbrush, camp soap, deodorant, razor, lotion, mini shampoo bottle, anti-inflammatory, sleep aid, earplugs, band aids, anti-bacterial ointment, antihistamines

Max Salzburg: Western Trout Destinations Manager

Max is Fly Water Travel's Destination Manager for Europe, New Zealand, and the trout fisheries of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. The joke within Max's family is that he has always been a tour guide at heart who loves nothing more than traveling to new places and being a stranger in a strange land.

Contact Us