Smith River gives Montana rafters a chilly reception

RIVER RUNNING — Rafters on Montana’s Smith River might have been getting as much use out of their snowshoes as they have out of their fishing rods this week, as the photo above indicates.

People can’t predict the weather when they draw permits during the February lottery for the popular stream.

The Smith River winds through a spectacular limestone canyon in the Lewis & Clark / Helena National Forests.  The typical four day, 59-mile float offers great fishing for cutthroat, brown and rainbow trout, plus mountain whitefish.