Class III-IV rapids are big and technical. It’s an ideal 2-4 day float trip without any designated camping sites. Combined Trout: 5 daily and in possession. Aug 17, 2018 #31 Salmo_g said: Nice pics Trapper. On my trips portaging our gear out I took pictures of as much of the gorge as I could, with the idea I might get an opportunity to run it before I die. Started the Busted Oar Lock to share interesting stories and discoveries from the road. The North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork all come together to form the Main Stem near Columbia Falls. We offer Rafting Drop Floats to the upper end of the South Fork of the Flathead River starting June 21st. Photographer, fly fisherman, and strong advocate for having a good time. The east side road (through Martin City) is straighter but gets more traffic. If possible, long duffle bags are preferred for packing gear in. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River is more whitewater intensive. For nearly 40 miles the river flows freely north-northwest, meandering through a forested and undeveloped roadless valley that forms the core of the 1.5 million acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Thread starter Salmo_g; Start date Aug 11, 2018; Prev. I thought I might catch them because there were a … A variety of car rentals are available should you decide to visit Glacier National Park before or after your trip. The Wild and Scenic South Fork Flathead River offers spectacular scenery and some of the best Cutthroat and Bull Trout fishing that can be found anywhere. The river is divided into several distinct sections. Mark Fuller and Hilary Hutcheson are the premier guides for Flathead River fly fishing trips. In the early years, Forest Service workers helped on county road construction. Fishing in the Flathead Valley is progressively getting better as the days go on. There are a ton of rookie guides in this area however. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. Bad Rock Canyon Conservation Project. If you need help finding an outfitter to help pack you out at your take out, we can provide you with some recommendations. Operating in the Bob Marshall Wilderness since 1932. We will pack your gear and your float equipment and can also pack you in if you aren’t up for the long hike into the South Fork of the Flathead River. Ford – 14 miles down makes this a good day trip option. The South Fork has good numbers of 8”- 16” cutthroat. You can go in from Holland Lake or reach Young’s Creek from Ovando area trailheads. Class III-IV rapids require experienced boaters through here as well. Gauging Station – Access below the dam and float into the main-stem. 65 miles from the origin to Hungry Reservoir and almost all of it flows through remote wilderness. Young’s Creek at Confluence of the South Fork of the Flathead River. Note that some motor boats do use the lower river as well. Plan to spend a quiet day, beginning with breakfast at your leisure. Overview. © 2020 406 Wilderness Outfitters The outflow is completely different as it runs through the lower valley and into the Clark Fork River. One of the best flyfishing streams but it’s a long, dusty 50-mile drive on bumpy gravel roads to Spotted Bear. 2. Start smallmouth bass fishing here. With that, the rivers have changed color from brown to a much more appealing green/blue. It forms the western border for Glacier National Park and is incredibly beautiful. Please be mindful of this when planning your gear for the trip. Teakettle – 14 miles below Blankenship. The Flathead has cooler waters, plenty of shade and a ton of water to explore. Relying on up-to-date, real-time fishing reports is key to getting the most out of your Flathead River fishing trip. These "do it yourself" rafting drop floats in the Bob Marshall Wilderness can put you right in the middle of the best fishing in Montana. Log jams and strainers are a major hazard so be extra careful here. FAS site. The Wilderness Runs The South Fork is a serious wilderness trip that requires horses to pack in your gear and a good week of floating to find yourself at a takeout with 60 miles of dirt road waiting before you hit pavement again. Or extend it to the next one. SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD DROP FLOATS MULE PACKING SERVICE FOR YOUR BOAT AND GEAR. Another convenient day trip float. Cascadilla Creek – 11 miles down. $3200.00 base rate Check/ACH payment $ 1600.00 deposit required to hold your dates. Popular with water skiers in the summer. Extended whitefish season and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only. Not a bad thing as they typically focus on whitewater and pick up fishing trips on the side. Use: Medium to Heavy. 1. Busted Oarlock – Fly Fishing, Rafting and Hunting in a Campervan. All bull trout must be released immediately. Flathead River Fishing Report. There is one dedicated outfitter in the region that is focused specifically on fishing and they run the best guides in the region. Blankenship Bridge – Common takeout point at the confluence that forms the main-stem of the Flathead river. The best fly fishing in the Flathead River is below the South Fork River. The drop float service is a one way service. It is drained by the South and Middle Forks of the Flathead River as well as several other highly packraftable rivers and streams including the Sun River, Teton River and too many tributaries to name here. South Fork of the Flathead River Long before I had a bucket list and two pack donkeys, I yearned to hike up the South Fork of the Flathead River. I thought they would helicopter the material in. Below Kerr Dam and the lake it runs through a short and furious 6 miles of rapids that are best suited to rafts, kayaks and experienced paddlers. You can rent a cabin in Polebridge, grab some food at the mercantile and have a nice float without needing to camp in grizzly bear country. 406-888-5454, Shore Thing Shuttles – Mainstem above Flathead Lake. Please try to pack coolers and containers that are the same size for balancing mule loads. After the Buffalo bridge, the river is wide, slow and full of smallmouth bass and pike. Trip Report South Fork Flathead River, Bob Marshall Wilderness. We then portaged the gorge and floated the Cedar Flats section of the river down to Spotted Bear Ranger Station. T. Trapper Guest. Lake trout: 100 daily and in possession, only 1 over 36 inches, and all fish 30 to 36 inches must be released. Nice for a quick float from Teakettle. 65 miles from the origin to Hungry Reservoir and almost all of it flows through remote wilderness. In addition to guided fishing trips, we offer drop & float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Call them directly at 406-261-4343 or call the fly shop at 406-897-3740. The South Fork of the Flathead River is one of the three main forks of the Flathead River and begins at the confluence of Danaher Creek and Youngs Creek. Nice mellow float through here. South Fork Flathead River. Middle Fork Flathead River – 7,290 CFS. (from Crossover Boat Ramp south and upstream to the confluence of Youngs and Danaher creeks), Copyright © 2018 Zach Lazzari Outdoor Media, Rich Venison Stew Recipe – Slow Cooker Version, Breakdown Raft Frames for Traveling Light. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. What a fabulously memorable trip!!! It is truly wild and the Hungry Horse Reservoir dam has isolated the river, preserving westslope cutthroat genetics and bull trout populations. West Glacier – 6 miles down and convenient to the town of West Glacier and the entrance to Glacier National Park. You can contact Wild Montana Anglers here to book a trip. 2018 Packrafting South Fork of the Flathead River - Bob Marshall Wilderness Moccasin Creek – Another 8 mile run that is great for half or full day runs. NOTE: A Flathead Indian Reservation Tribal Permit is required to fish on the southern portion of the lake. It is very scenic. South Fork Flathead Itinerary Day 1 – Pack Up and Ride. It is also very remote. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. Writing, photographing, hunting, fishing and exploring full-time. It’s 27 miles and can be done in a day but multiple days are ideal for really taking your time and enjoying the river. You could make a full day of it in lower water. Recent graduate looking for his path down the river of life. From the early spring fishing in March and April, May … … What is included in the base rate: 1 packer, 6 animals, either pack or ride. In 1921, the U.S. Forest Service USFS moved the original Spotted Bear headquarters compound, established in 1908 near Spotted Bear Lake, to this site. Facilities: Trail provides spectacular views of Clearwater Valley and popular access to Young's Creek, Hahn Creek and the headwaters of the South Fork of the Flathead. The South Fork of the Flathead River feeds into the Hungry Horse Reservoir in this image looking north towards the Apgar Mountains alongside the Whitefish and Smokey Mountain Ranges in the distance. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. Right above Flathead Lake. Note: Montana/Glacier National Park boundary is the ordinary high water mark on the park side of the river. Around 5 miles total. Glacier Raft Company – They run the North, Middle and some main-stem. The Middle and South fork are around 4-5 feet of clarity, while the North Fork is at 3 feet of clarity. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. All three forks of the river are starting to see some nice clarity. If you are floating the river, you will need to arrange transportation at the end of your journey. Best fishing is late June through October. Part 2- The South Fork Flathead River - Duration: 47:10. From Bear Creek to the confluence you can access the river from the highway at multiple locations. A short section below the Hungry Horse Dam makes up the final stretch before the confluence. South Fork Road Access – The road between Hungry Horse Reservoir and the Spotted Bear Ranch has several obvious road sites where you can do a primitive launch. It’s a June-July game in most years. Dixon – Another 20 to the small town of Dixon. Bull trout: catch-and-release from the third saturday in May through July 31. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. Canada Border – A fair number of folks put-in here and run the entire 60 miles down to Blankenship Bridge at the confluence with the main-stem. Mid Creek Takout – This is where you will takeout from the Wilderness float. Also a popular takeout from the North and Middle forks. It flows out of deep wilderness and feeds the largest lake west of the Mississippi. Drive safe and turn around if needed. The gorge below this is insane. Polson Park – The lake enters the river channel. North Fork Flathead River is a river in Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, MT. This threat was defined as especially predictable in drainages with a lake in the headwaters. Many of the lakes had been historically stocked with exotic … There’s fly fishing, hiking and just relaxing — or for those interested in horseback riding we saddle up for some adventure travel and … Float the south fork of the flathead In addition to guided fly fishing, we offer drop float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. ), then southerly and southwesterly along said trail to USFS Trail 154, then southwesterly along said trail to USFS Trail 155, then westerly along said trail to USFS Trail … I can honestly say, this was the most memorable and seamless of all trips thanks to the unique and family- friendly service the Cheff’s provide. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. It’s much broader and slower here. The goal of the project is to wipe out hybridized trout in the watershed by about 2017. It is an integral part of administering the Forest Service programs in the Spotted Bear District, which encompasses the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Great Bear Wilderness and the South Fork of the Flathead River. It’s good for a long full day from Essex or an easily managed day from Paola. 2020 Big River Fishing Recap; Fishing Report 7-25-20; … Delta, Alaska/Horizon, United, Alegiant, Frontier and US Airways offer flights into Glacier National Airport (FCA). The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the most popular packraft rivers in the lower-48. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a major river in Northwestern Montana. We will pack your gear and your float equipment and can also pack you in if you aren’t up for the long hike into the South Fork of the Flathead River. Kokanee Bend – 3 miles down. Wilderness access – You will need to hike or horse pack a good 25+ miles regardless of trailhead choice here. Book A Trip. Motorboats use this zone. Purchase online. 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Possession when fishing for bull trout for any reason begins and ends Kalispell!

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