Montana ·
Smith River Fly Fishing Report - August 16, 2026
SMITH RIVER
ReportAUG 16 — 23, 2026
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Flow
109CFS
Smith River bl Eagle Cr nr Fort Logan MT
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Water Temp
65.3°F
Updated 2026-08-16
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Weather
46–75°F
Chance Rain Showers
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow has ticked up to 109 cfs from last week's 69 cfs, offering slightly better wading and drift coverage while remaining clear — water temp is 65.3°F, keeping fish active but pushing them toward shade and cooler seams during midday heat.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Brown #12
#12
Bionic Hopper - Tan #12
#12
Bionic Hopper - Purple #12
#12
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Stealth Link Mercer - PMD #20
#20
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
#18
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ants (Terrestrial) | 16-18 | Heavy | 10 AM - 4 PM |
| Grasshoppers (Terrestrial) | 12-14 | Moderate | 12 PM - 5 PM |
| Epeorus (PMD/Pink Lady) | 14-16 | Moderate | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Caddis | 16-20 | Moderate | 6 PM - 8 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive | 20-22 | Light | 2 PM - 5 PM |
| Midges | 20-24 | Light | 7 AM - 9 AM |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Early midge and Epeorus nymphing in riffles and tailouts before sun hits the water — fish are most aggressive in the cool morning hours.
- 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Prime terrestrial window as ant and beetle activity picks up along grassy banks; work the Bionic Ant tight to structure with a dead drift.
- 3:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Hopper-and-ant action along shaded cutbanks, transitioning to caddis and potential BWO dry fly fishing if storm clouds build and cool the air.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flow up to 109 cfs and water at 65.3°F, fish will push into the shade of cutbanks and deeper slots by 11 AM to escape warming surface temps — target those lies with terrestrials in the morning and switch to nymphs in the afternoon heat. Use a 12-14 foot leader tapered to 5X or 6X; the Smith is gin-clear and fish will refuse a fly on heavy tippet without hesitation. If afternoon thunderstorms fire between 3-5 PM as forecast, expect a brief BWO flurry in the flat water — have a Parachute BWO or Juju Baetis ready to swap in quickly. Keep an eye on clarity after any storm cell passes through; if the river colors up even slightly, drop down to a heavier nymph like the Frenchie Jig and work the edges where fish will stack up.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
