above the confluence with the Missouri, running 76 miles from top 

 to bottom. 



Because of limited public access, float fishing and boating 

 are the most common recreational uses of the river. The floating 

 season is concentrated to May, June, and the first half of July 

 due to dewatering in mid- to late summer. The 60-mile upper 

 segment from Camp Baker to Eden Bridge is the most popular float 

 with steep canyon walls dotted with caves, some of which contain 

 Indian pictographs, a tumbling stream bed, and the sense of rural- 

 flavored remoteness. The river corridor also is home to several 

 subdivisions, fence lines, and cattle grazing. From a 

 recreational standpoint, the Smith is a good example of how 

 limited access can add to recreational value. All 80 miles of the 

 Smith rated for their recreational value received a Class I value. 

 As a result of the limited floating season, fishing pressure does 

 not compare to other Montana trout streams. Because access and 

 fishing pressure are two of the four factors involved in 

 determining the sport fishery value of a reach, the highest sport 

 fishery value on the Smith was a Class II, found on the 24-mile 

 section from Fort Logan Bridge to Rock Creek, above the Canyon. 

 The remaining 100 miles of river and the north and south forks 

 received Class III or IV fishery final resource values. In an 

 effort to increase both abundance and size of trout within the 

 Smith Canyon, a special "slot" limit, which allows anglers to keep 

 trout under 13 inches and over 22 inches in length, was 

 established in 1985 by the MDFWP. 



For wildlife values, the entire Smith earned a Class II final 

 resource value. The upper Smith River basin, excluding the South 

 Fork, achieved Class II species value because it supports 

 abundant-to-moderate populations of white-tailed deer, mule deer, 

 elk, antelope, mountain lion, bobcat, beaver, and upland game 

 birds. This section of the Smith also achieved Class II for its 

 gallery forests, outstanding habitat diversity, and generally good 

 riparian habitat condition. The lower 43 miles of the Smith and 

 the South Fork of the Smith achieved only Class III habitat 

 quality due to impacts of grazing and agriculture, and generally 

 low to moderate habitat diversity. However, these units still 

 support important species or habitats of special concern such as 

 the osprey, waterfowl staging areas, warm springs, heron 

 rookeries, and high density raptors (South Fork). 



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