I went to the Pat Barnes TU meeting last weds. They had a state
biologist there to talk about fish counts WD and NZ mud snails in
the Mo basin including the Smith.

While things could be worse, they re not great. Fish count was down
again, under the 30 yr avg for the first time in many years. The
mortality count for WD in all the tribs was 100%. Also there is the
begining of the mud snail infestation at the most popular put in
points.

There was grumbling about the pelicans but there was talk that they
eat mainly small fish tho then they re eating the small trout too.
The biggest problem is of course the continuing drought. Snow pack
around the state is running around 50% . The resavoirs have not filled
at all this winter. The Mo has a guarrenteed flow of 2800 CFS which
is really minimal at best. But if things get worse they can declare an
emergency and then that rule is suspended. It was difficult fishing at
that level last year. The danger of fires is high.

The SMith is in even worse shape tho without the WD problem. The fish
count has dropped to some of the lowest levels ever. The state is still
in the stone age as far as hydrology and can t quite get ahold of
the idea that new wells close to the river drain the aquifier which
fills the river.... Im not floating the Smith this year.

SO if you are thinking about comming to MT and especially the Mo come
early and forget about August and probably Sept. The only good news is
that the rising fishing pressure is waning as the word is getting
out. The Mo is now a tough technical river . Gone are the days of
massive indescriminate pods feeding every couple hundred yards. You
re now lucky to find rising fish .

MT