Smith River Restricted To Morning-Only Fishing

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An unprecedented run of record 100-degree days placed the Smith River’s wild rainbow and brown trout in jeopardy and prompted state officials today to close the popular river to all fishing between the hours of noon and midnight through Sept. 15.

The closure takes effect Thursday on the entire 125-mile stretch of the Smith River, which generally flows between White Sulphur Springs and Great Falls. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ acting director Dan Ellison, in consultation with FWP’s fisheries staff and FWP Commissioner John Lane, took the action to limit fishing to morning hours only.

"Flows in the Smith, like most rivers east of the Continental Divide, have deteriorated faster than anyone expected," said Steve Leathe, FWP’s fisheries manager in Great Falls. "The Smith River is now flowing at 58 cfs. It’s the lowest level we’ve seen for this date since 1988, and the water temperature has been dangerously high for several days." Leathe said.

The river’s water temperature reached 80 degrees in the canyon section on July 21, and daily maximums have been above 73 degrees for the past 12 days in a row.

FWP’s drought plan calls for angling restrictions to be imposed when maximum daily water temperatures equal or exceed 73 degrees for three consecutive days. The preferred water temperature for rainbow and brown trout is about 55-57 degrees. Temperatures of 77 degrees or more can be lethal to trout.

Leathe said FWP’s best short-term drought strategy is to reduce catch-and-release mortality by restricting fishing to mornings only. "Fishing only in the cool, morning hours will allow more adults to make it through this heat and drought so enough adult rainbow and brown trout return to their key spawning tributaries this fall and next spring to keep their populations going," Leathe said.

Leathe cautioned, however, that water temperatures can exceed 70 degrees even before noon on these record hot days. He’s advising all anglers to add a thermometer to their gear and to regularly check water temperature. "When the water reaches 70 degrees, it’s best to quit fishing for the day," he said.

FWP closes streams to fishing when low water conditions, and high temperatures combined with fishing pressure would lead to an unacceptable level of stress on fish.   Low flows, high water temperatures and competition for space and food stress fish. When fish seek refuge in pools, where the water is deeper and cooler, they become more vulnerable to anglers and predators. Fish can die from the higher water temperatures, lower oxygen levels and reduced resistance to disease. These threats can affect adult trout numbers in future years.

If conditions deteriorate further, the river may be closed to all fishing all times of the day. Biologists will continue to monitor the river, Leathe said.

The Smith River was closed to angling in 2000 due to drought-related low flows and high water temperatures.