Next Monday, November 6, anglers will stage a rally at the Montana Capitol in Helena before heading to a public meeting on a proposed copper mine at the headwaters of the Smith River. (Click here for details on all the upcoming public meetings about the project.) The plan is for those with drift boats or rafts to tow them to Helena, forming a high-profile procession on the way to the rally. The boat convoy will meet in Helena at 3:00 p.m. at a location to be determined, and then boaters will head over for a rally on the Capitol lawn.

After the rally, it’s time to head to the Radisson Colonial Hotel in Helena provide a dramatic statement about our love of the Smith.

Those who need transportation to the rally can ride in buses from Bozeman and Missoula. (See below.) Organizers are expecting a great turnout in the hope of showing the state exactly how important Montana’s Smith River really is and convincing legislators that the proposed mine should be stopped.

If you plan to tow a boat,  please register below, so a location large enough for all the trailers can be found.

Need a ride from Bozeman or Missoula to Helena for Public Hearing? Here are the boarding locations for free buses from Bozeman and Missoula to Helena for the hearing:

• Bozeman Bus #1 (sponsored by Mad Gal TU) will depart at 2:30 p.m. from The River’s Edge at 2012 N 7th Av, Bozeman, MT 59715.
• Bozeman Bus #2 (sponsored by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers) will depart at 2:30 p.m. from K-Mart parking lot at 7th and Oak.
• Missoula Bus (sponsored by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers) will depart from the dirt parking lot north of the Town Pump at 5556 Grant Creek Road.

Folks from Bozeman can register here for the boat procession or bus #2.

Folks from Missoula can register here the boat procession. The bus is first come, first served.