south fork flathead river float

To even contemplate going through this gorge will require a very small, tough raft, whitewater inflatable kayak or hard shell kayak, as any large raft is quite likely to get frequently stuck and require countless portages. Terrestrial patterns, particularly hoppers, also are excellent to use in July and August. The South Fork of the Flathead River begins deep in the heart of Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, one of the nations largest designated wilderness areas. The South Fork of the Flathead is a freestone stream, vulnerable to the nuances of runoff, and typically unfishable until mid to late June. This bag should be plenty large enough for everything listed on our suggested packing list. *This story was originally titled "Glacier's Borderlands: Do-it-yourself adventures on the North and Middle forks of the Flathead.". We travel 6 to 10 miles a day through spectacular backcountry and most routes include one day of uphill climbing. The Flathead River represents the combined flow of hundreds of headwater creeks funneled from the glacial cirques of Glacier National Park and other wild places within the U.S. and Canada. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. The distance to the South Fork is about 18 miles and requires a hard all-day horse ride or at least a two-day hike. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. A floater reels in a 12-inch cutthroat trout from the emerald green water of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Montana's Great Bear Wilderness Area in . The Bob Marshall Wilderness covers more than 1 million acres and is home to the South Fork of the Flathead River. How long will we be floating on the river each day? This is the classic way WRO ran our wilderness trips, and is a wonderful way to experience this river! If you are bringing a large, expensive camera, we recommend you bring a hard waterproof case in which to store it and accessories. Synthetic materials are lightweight and dry much quicker than cotton. An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. The second, and somewhat obvious, reason is that in order to reach the river in the wilderness area requires considerable time and energy, as it lies in a very remote setting by any standard. We start the trip with a two-day ride (or hike) through spectacular scenery through the Bob Marshall wilderness to access the starting point of the float, then spend five days fly-fishing some of the most pristine water in Montana. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Your river and/or hiking clothes can double as camp clothes, but you are welcome to bring something else if you would like, such as a cotton shirt, an athletic dress/skirt for women, dry pants, layers or some fiesta-wear. Copyright 2017 Montana River Outfitters - Site by. It is one of the three main forks of the Flathead River, a tributary of the Clark Fork River. This trip also is a premium pack-rafting destination, which WRO also offers and is a really awesome way to experience the river in a way that is personal and adventurous. Can I stay at a different hotel than your recommended options before the trip? First, Montana Fish & Game imposed strict special wilderness limits years ago. On the South Fork of the Flathead, I am pleased to report, enterprising anglers can find remote campsites, solitude, and scads of native westslope cutthroat. A general river orientation and safety talk will be given, and PFDs (lifejackets) will be custom-fitted before getting on the water and starting the adventure! The North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork have different origins and personalities, each a different river until they merge to form the main stem of the Flathead River. We bring oar boats, paddle boats, and at lower water, inflatable kayaks. On one of our trips last summer three people fishing the same hole each caught 20 fish in under an hour! This is in addition to the local wildlife that can make any trip an interesting and memorable experience. Explore all WRO trips on our interactive map . The Middle Fork Flathead River is one of Montana's premier whitewater rivers. Will it be cold? We dedicate plenty of river time to fishing for one of the purest strains of Westslope Cutthroat trout in the world. After unloading the mules that pack the gear out, we will meet the vehicles and WRO will provide transportation back to Kalispell. The trout in this river are eager to please, and on a good day, anglers with nothing more than a #12 Royal Wulff may raise 30 or more fish and bring at least half to the net. We have loved all the guides, and all the trips. Up until reaching Meadow Creek Gorge 40 miles later, described later, the river presents no special challenges to a rafter. In addition to the large waterproof bag issued for packing clothing and camp items, everyone is also issued a smaller day bag to carry items you will need access to while on the river (sunscreen, camera, extra layer, rain gear, etc.). Examples in Kalispell include Sportsman's Warehouse, REI, or Cabellas. Flathead River The designated river includes the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork above Hungry Horse Reservoir and features recreation, scenery, historic sites, unique fisheries and wildlife such as grizzly bears and wolves. Generally we will either pack 25 miles into Gordon Pass, in which you hike in from Holland Lake, or around 23 miles to Youngs Creek from Pyramid or Lodgepole Pass. Once in the interior, a person can spend months traversing the 2000 miles of trails that criss-cross this vast wilderness area. To avoid going through this gorge, any floater must be prepared to pack out their gear (you just cant float out to your car). Belly; Big Hole; Lower Clark Fork; South Fork Flathead; Swan: NE: 1895: 1992: 6: . These are very comfortable and fit very nicely in our gear bags. What if there is a family emergency back home? Great guides -- competent, knowledgeable and just great guys. The fishing we will do is primarily inside of our fishing rafts, and you will not need waders. Floating the South Fork of the Flathead River is perhaps one of the finest floats anyone can do in the lower 48. South Fork Flathead trips are unique in the sense that you have to pack in your trip on a mule string, and most packing outfitters will not allow carbonated beverages to be packed on the animals. We will make lunch for the trail, and after a short drive to the trailhead in the morning we will be on our way. Be sure to check out the weather section of the packing list for specific seasonal information and average temperatures for your trip, as well as doing your own research a week prior to your trip, checking anticipated weather at Seeley Lake, MT (our put-in) as well as at the Meadow Creek Trail, MT (close to our takeout). The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. See Special License Requirements for application information. These coolers and containers must be the same size for balancing mule loads. If you are interested for a drop camp trip for hiking and fishing, the cost would be doubled for pickup and return. They really strive to make each person comfortable and happy! And cooking fish, especially over an open fire, produces a powerful aromaan aroma that grizzly bears just love. Jim Klug photo. Our sleep kits consist of a "Therm-a-rest" pad, a 20 degree sleeping bag, a pack-able pillow, and a ground cloth. Yes, we do normally change campsites every day. As this is a pack-in trip, we highly recommend limiting your personal gear to 25-30 pounds, and leaving non-essential items at home. Means of Introduction: This species has been intentionally stocked as a sport fish in most areas. Backpacking, Horseback Riding, Rafting, Wildlife, Fishing, Hiking. The catch is, of course, the best fishing is found well above the Meadow Creek Pack Bridge, as far fewer people fish upstream than at the much more accessible trailhead. During your registration, you will note your boat preferences so we can plan accordingly. However you get there, the South Fork of the Flathead River is a place where good fishing and a wonderful experience go hand in hand. Check out the full of story of Sage Indendi Johnson's journey from a path towards professional basketball to guiding in Alaska. But there are few places that are as remote or offer such a unique experience. We often have dinner together, and you will spend this first night at the Rich Ranch lodging. Guests arrive the day before their scheduled trip, as gear needs to be dropped off at the trailhead by 2:00 p.m. We will weigh and pack your gear for an early start the next morning. If I listened to the pessimists about how angling pressure on that stream is unbearable and that the fish aren't what they used to be, I would have missed one of the most quintessential camping and fly-fishing experiences an angler can find in Montana. On the morning of departure, the pack string with your gear will go over Hahn Pass, a 29 mile ride to the confluence of Youngs Creek and Danaher Creeks which form the South Fork of the Flathead. The river is loaded with bulls in the early fall when they run upstream from Hungry Horse Reservoir, but anglers can't intentionally fish for them between August 15 and the end of the season. Numerous Class II, III and IV rapids exist in this gorge. 65 miles from the origin to Hungry Reservoir and almost all of it flows through remote wilderness. And it runs through the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, just south of Glacier National Park. Please be mindful of this when planning your gear for the trip. Meanwhile, clients will ride in from the Lodgepole trailhead, which is a 23 mile ride to the confluence. WRO met them in every way! Please arrive by 10:15 AM for a prompt departure at 10:30 AM. They talk about bull trout spawning over the last 50 years in the Great Bear. Hopper patterns, chubby trinobles, purple haze, parachute adams, humpies, ants, beetles, and general terrestrial patterns are popular flies in this region. Seth has worked hard to make the trip work for ALL of us. Cast for native trout along grassy meadows bursting with wildflowers. This section of wilderness is absolutely remote, but with WRO I felt completely safe and in good hands. What will temperatures and weather be like? Please contact our office ahead of time to arrange logistics if you need to be picked up. Also are excellent to use in July and August Fork river an and... About 18 miles and requires a hard all-day horse ride or at least two-day... 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