Best decision we made was to stay at. We pick you up each day at the hotel and in the evenings you can enjoy fun western towns like Bozeman and Livingston, Browse our large network of vacation homes and cabins that are either on the water or centrally located to great fishing. The outflow is completely different as it runs through the lower valley and into the Clark Fork River. Nice for a quick float from Teakettle. Just found out Four Rivers Shuttle service, out of Missoula runs shuttles around the Bob. Ill keep trying because Im keen to float this river! It might be inevitable that it will be a permitted river just because of the sheer number of vessels packrafting brings but this will slow it. It's important to keep in mind that the river changes annually and there may be log jams and new rapids in places where there weren't before. From the mouth of the Stillwater River downstream to Flathead Lake, no maggots and no scented artifi cial lures (infused, saturated or applied). Aug 2-8, June 22-28 It flows out of deep wilderness and feeds the largest lake west of the Mississippi. Information. Our route required fifteen miles of backpacking to get to our put-in on the river. The highway veers away from the river at this point if youre headed up Marias Pass towards East Glacier. Does anyone know the conditions of the trails this year? You can contact Wild Montana Anglers here to book a trip. Hike/ trail ride through Bob Marshall Wilderness. The first two days of your trip will be spent travelling on horseback to get to the upper reaches of the river. The first two days of your trip will be spent travelling on horseback to get to the upper reaches of the river. DYI South Fork of the Flathead Float Pack In Gear Drop, Educational Classes for: Mule Packing, Back Country Camping, Leave No Trace principles for Stock Use, We are offering a Mule Packing and Wilderness Skills Class, Wilderness Camp Cook Needed for Summer Pack Trip Vacations and Fall Hunting Camp, History of Military Use of Horses and Mules. possible because it gets hot on the south side of the pass and there isnt Theres a point in a destinations popularity where increased traffic becomes inevitable, and education is particularly valuable right then. Lake Lookout and Salmon Lake. Read about average temperatures and weather patterns month by month. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River is more whitewater intensive. If you are planning an over-night stay along the river, we will store your vehicle at no extra charge. The Flathead River is unique among the rivers in Montana in that it is really three rivers in one, with two main sections that are good for fishing. Anglers will fly into Kalispell and drive or get shuttled to the Wilderness Lodge near the Spotted Bear trailhead (or stay the night in a local hotel and drive to the trailhead early the next morning). Includes rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and grayling. Shuttle Information; Glacier Park International Airport; Traveling the Going-to-the-Sun Road; . Rates and terms for some of our standard trips. Blankenship Bridge 15 miles down from Big Creek. Purchase online. "We hiked in over lodgepole on the 11th and took out on the 16th. We will ride through lush green mountain valleys, across cold clear streams and over majestic passes. Rome2rio makes travelling from Kalispell Airport (FCA) to Bigfork easy. The South Fork of the Flathead, located in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, is a horsepack in/float out trip of 5-7 days, putting you over feisty Cutthroats to 22 and "Bull Trout" to 15 pounds. Typically this is a 900lb capacity per flight including guests and gear. He talks about the hike in sections as well as everything that can be floated. FAS site. Bears- customers ask fairly frequently about bears and how to prepare for them.I honestly haven't heard of anyone encountering a grizzly on the main trail or on the river. Not cutting other boats off or paddling through fishing holes that people are fishing, Fishing more for bull trout, because you wont catch as many cut-throats and the ones you catch will be bigger, Pulling your fish in quickly and taking the hook out in the water. wilderness areas in the lower-48. Im curious if anyone has a report on the status of the lodgepole trail and clearing of that going into upper youngs creek. Our blog offers a vast collection of useful articles that include topics related to hatches, seasons, rivers, destination trip reports and more, Helpful checklists to make sure you include the proper clothing and gear for your Montana fishing trip, Information on rates for Montana and Yellowstone National Park fishing licenses. I also own a packraft rental company, Backcountry Packrafts, so my business benefits greatly from the popularity of this river. With over two decades of transportation experience and river guiding knowledge, we are dedicated to safely transferring your vehicle from put-in to takeout while you are on the river. Note that some motor boats do use the lower river as well. There are only a few commercial Outfitting Permits on the river, and we are one of them. isnt attached. Everything below Kerr Dam runs through the Flathead Reservation and requires a license purchased directly from the reservation. Enjoy unique accommodations right on the water. We put in on Young's Creek just above where Babcock flows in late on our second day and paddled about a mile till we reached the first portage. Class III-IV rapids are big and technical. I've seen one Black bear and have had a handful of customers report black bear sightings on the river. 406-407-1602. Bear Creek The first road access where you can launch a boat. Extended season for whitefish and lake trout from December 1 through the third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only. Sweet side-trips that we have done include: Mud Closed to angline June 1 through September 30 within a 150-yard radius of the Bear Creek Stream mouth. South Fork Flathead Watershed Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation Program, Annual Report 2002.. United States: N. p., 2003. Site cast to trophy trout cruising the shallows of several productive lakes. Spring creeks offer the ultimate challenge in the fly fishing world. This cold, clear water flows into the North, South and Middle forks of the Flathead, which merge together near Columbia Falls to begin a . Choose from Montana's most comprehensive selection of fly fishing trips. About 65-70 miles total. Dont forget forest rangers are the law back there and they (one in particular) follow it to the letter! second we started from Bench Mark (West of Augusta, MT) and went in on the June 30-July 6 To the north, West Glacier, Montana is the terminus. Thanks! Northern pike: extended season for northern pike from December 1 through February 28, artificial lures only. View Stream Flow Data . The South Fork Flathead River drainage contains 355 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of stream habitat. splashy rapids right at the take-out point so you might miss it if you arent The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. It is located in one of the largest Utilizing the services of an outfitter is a great move. Streams running off the east side of the range drain into the 98-mile (158 km) South Fork Flathead River. We offer a 7 day adventure (6 day option also available) that takes you into the best westslope cutthroat and bull trout river in the country, the beautiful, remote South Fork of the Flathead. Blankenship Bridge The first launch site on the main stem. Not sure how it would be in We try to keep an up to date list of local shuttles but these are subject to change. You can also see a plane wreck just inside Are you doing a trip this year, if so what are the dates? All camping and fishing equipment is provided. . Otherwise, lean forward person in our group every year on the last day(although I've heard mixed reports about it washing out since then). While on the water we might see only one other boat in 20 miles, while those users might see 4-5 different packraft parties in the same time period. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. Log jams and strainers are a major hazard so be extra careful here. Although the trend in western states these days is toward removing dams, this particular . In 2018, that number had zoomed up to 1,662. The trail was clear of blowdown except for where the Hahn cabin bypass trail is. Last stop before the Clark Fork Confluence. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. It is both easy and understandable to go hog wild the first time a 50+ fish day is available to you, but in my opinion its only ethically defensible to do this once in your life. of people doing the whole South Fork trip in 4 days, but I would recommend at least 6 We don't often do this, but in this case, if your going to fish the upper section of the river, we recommend you use an outfitter. I know there are companies that will shuttle your vehicle around for you. But the truly best fishing around is accessed via a long . Options include diverse lodging packages, camping trips, wilderness horse pack expeditions, day trips and world wide travel. So you can really get away from it all! Hope this was helpful, PM me if you have any specific questions or need some advice. Are there any shuttle services that will take you to the trail head (Benchmark), drop you off, then pick you up at Meadow Creek trail head then take you to Kalispell? high water though. Options include diverse lodging packages, camping trips, wilderness horse pack expeditions, day trips and world wide travel. supposed to get a free bull trout targeting stamp on your license (last time I checked anyway). These first two days are mostly riding days but you will have the chance to fish near the camps in the evenings and mornings while camp is being setup or taken down. To the northeast, the Middle Fork of the Flathead River as it flows beside Glacier National Park. The Wild Mile River Retreat 4.6 Superb. OPTION to fly into Spotted Bear: depending on your dates it may be possible to fly into Spotted Bear via small aircraft. For well information this can be a district-assigned local number. July 24-30 Site cast to trophy trout cruising the shallows of several productive lakes. Pulling your fish in quickly and taking the hook out in the water, South Fork updated: July 9-13, approx 4000 CFS. ready. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, http://www.bmwf.org/trail_conditions.html. Mature, licensed drivers for all of our shuttles. Its an ideal 2-4 day float trip without any designated camping sites. There are three portages between where we put in on Young's Creek and Young's Canyon, the first two are a couple hundred yards of carrying boats over/around logs on the shore and last one is about 50 ft on a nice path on river right to a side channel. All bull trout must be released immediately. We are flying into Montana from out of state. Id love to do a trip in over Youngs pass but have had the hardest time finding an outfit that will do a vehicle shuttle. Aug 2-8, June 22-28 Montana is home to some of the most productive wild trout rivers on the planet. South Fork of the Sun then up and over White River Pass. The rivers, streams and lakes of Yellowstone National Park hold a special place in the hearts of many anglers. Maximize your time on the water and make great memories on one of our deluxe overnight river camping trips. Benji Lilly caught the strikingly pale stocked trout Canada has seen a staggering rise in the A step-by-step guide for Texas-rigging plastic baits. If you just have a day or two to spare, day trips are a great way to experience Montana's legendary fisheries. There is one dedicated outfitter in the region that is focused specifically on fishing and they run the best guides in the region. West Glacier 6 miles down and convenient to the town of West Glacier and the entrance to Glacier National Park. The next two year report will come out later this year, Rosenthal notes. Not all locations fish well every month but there is always something peaking on any given week. Many of the cutthroat also run out of the massive Hungry Horse Reservoir to the north producing surprisingly sizable fish mostly in the 12-18" range with a few over 20". On a different trip into the Bob we had to turn around and go back because my friends fishing license had disappeared out of his pack. Missouri River Trout Shop 406-235-4474. Gallatin River. To reach the trailhead, turn onto Holland Lake Road from Highway 83 and follow the signs. Shuttle Services. All that Length 4.3 miElevation gain 1,893 ftRoute type Out & back. He said there were wolves eating on an elk carcas just below the confluence of the Danaher and young's. We are located under the giant log arch on the south side of US Highway 2, 1/2 mile west of West Glacier. Flathead River Montana - The drainage is one of America's coolest river systems. Its below 1100 right now You probably would probably want to put in at least below Big Praire probably White River best bet? Not as good as the first time I fished it 5+ years ago, in my pre-packraft days, but still good. It is very scenic. Its a beautiful stretch but at 320 cfs it was a little gravelly and slow at times. Invasive Muscles are a part of life now in Montana and raft inspections are now mandatory for all rafts entering the Bob. Its an important distinction to keep in mind, and one that multiple FS employees have emphasized in conversation. A short section below the Hungry Horse Dam makes up the final stretch before the confluence. I just got back from the SF Flathead. We caught more fish than I can count. Look They were super fun to be around. This remote river drains much of the "Bob" and is home to the largest genetically pure native trout population in Montana. Not a bad thing as they typically focus on whitewater and pick up fishing trips on the side. You can go in from Holland Lake or reach Youngs Creek from Ovando area trailheads. Expect two hours of remote dirt road driving from the pavement to the Lodgepole TH. Rates and terms for some of our standard trips. thank God you are a packrafter, because you can easily get out of the pool For Information related to travelling to Montana: which airports to fly into, major towns, etc. Cast for native trout along grassy meadows bursting with wildflowers. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Bob Marshall Wilderness Float Trip (7 day). mcswny Life . The ranger wouldnt budge, or call in to verify his license. The huge log jam just before Gordon Creek flows in now has a good side channel river right that skirts you around the log jam. Looking to avoid the very expensive shuttle. Experience the wilds of Montana on a multi-day horse pack adventure. The trail from Pyramid Pass is about 2 miles longer but it gets us up onto Youngs Creek faster. Check out Dave Chenaults flow guide and maybe try to contact him: This was originally posted almost three years ago, but Im bumping and updating it in light of record-setting low flows which will seriously effect packrafting this summer and fall. We found some garbage on the river, please do your part to keep the river clean so it doesnt become the next Smith. South Fork Lolo Creek Trail parallels stream. Didnt see another human soul, but some of the deeper pools had hundreds and hundreds of fish. It's a place of beauty and the romance of the wild. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Please check out the link here for check station locations. You will be hungry at this point! Fishing the South Fork Flathead below Cedar Flats A few miles down the river we came to a great campsite. Combined Trout: 5 daily and in possession. Plan for your Montana fishing trip. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. around it on the trail if it is intimidating. http://www.bmwf.org/trail_conditions.html. Enjoy lightly fished streams and trophy lakes on one our exclusive ranch leases. What does something like that shuttle cost ? Shuttle option from Kalispell provided by guides or outfitting team $300 per vehicle round trip (max 4 per vehicle). The second was a pinch point about a mile from the mid-creek takeout and it flipped 6 of the 9 in this group. Find out when to come, what equipment to bring, browse blog articles, and more, "My dad and I did the trip to the Bob and it was one of the best I've ever been on. Price: 5-6 Day South Fork Fly Fishing Package (Wade only) $2,800 per person - 6 people $3,200 per person - 5 people After years of dreaming about packing a boat over the mountains and plying the Bob Marshalls waters, Ben Romans decided to finally scratch it off his bucket list. We take care of all the gear and you just sit back and relax after arriving in camp. July 24-30 Hey! Let us help you build the perfect lodging and fishing package. Just did a short weekend trip on the S Fork. Popular with water skiers in the summer. The fisheries in the Bob Marshall are just as pristine and prolific as they were in the days of the Lewis and Clark expedition and provide an unequaled opportunity to target the native west slope cutthroat trout and the bull trout. after the take-out and climb over the small rocky embankment with your packraft The South Fork drainage is the largest stronghold of these native Char in the Lower 48 states. Start smallmouth bass fishing here. The South Fork of the Flathead in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Started the Busted Oar Lock to share interesting stories and discoveries from the road. any hydros that will kill you) but there are lots of rocks and you will probably Definitely bring bear spray and hang your food, but the overall concentration of bears is pretty low in that area during the summer. The South Fork is also one of the few places in Montana where the threatened bull trout may be directly targeted by anglers. Often you can fish multiple blue ribbon rivers in the same day. This technical match the hatch fishing produces big results. 14. The geographic boundaries: To the west, the South Fork of the Flathead River and Hungry Horse Reservoir. Please note: both groups ran the river when it was between the 8000-10,000 cfs range as measured at the. Not cutting other boats off or paddling through fishing holes that people are fishing, 7. The South Fork only flows for 5 miles below Hungry Horse Dam before the river ends at the confluence of the Flathead River. Schafer Meadows Pack or fly into this area float the wilderness stretch of the river out. It was my first time taking Youngs gorge after 3 trips on the S. Fork and it was everything I had in me not to flip. Hiking up or down river for wade fishing is also a good bet here. I also had 3 renters get fined $80/person in the Bob because they didnt have life jackets in their boats. If the water is low, it isnt too high consequence (meaning there arent Ive been thinking about writing a trip summary of the South Fork of the Flathead for a couple years now, but avoided doing so for fear that I would increase the number of people floating it. To reserve your trip email Bobmarshallwilderness12@gmail.com or Call Trent Osburn (406)321-0984 We are Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters specializing in summer and early fall traditional horseback family vacations. The robust smells of campfire coffee and fresh mountain air will wake you as you stir from your cot and step out of the tent into a crisp, Montana wilderness morning. July 5-11 . I have done all my trips in July and only been Bass: Open entire year, 5 daily and in possession, no size limit. The following is from a renter in 2019 regarding a new rapid near the White River confluence: made a new channel) that we portaged around.". Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Welcome! The Flathead River (Salish: lqetk ntxetk, ntxe, Kutenai: kananmituk), in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Montana, originates in the Canadian Rockies to the north of Glacier National Park and flows southwest into Flathead Lake, then after a journey of 158 miles (254 km), empties into the Clark Fork.The river is part of the Columbia River drainage basin, as the Clark . Contact me directly if you are looking for a shuttle on the East side as I have some contacts. Hi all, Four of us have a drop in trip planned for the South Fork of the Flathead River this July. Flathead River Shuttle 406-890-2600. Dixon Another 20 to the small town of Dixon. JavaScript is disabled. The first floatable stretch on Youngs and the 16-18 miles of hiking over Youngs Creek Pass to the first float-able stretches Call 406-370-5845 and ask for Tommy. The main Flathead River at Columbia Falls hit 14.5 feet on Tuesday, 1.5 feet above flood stage. And the outfitter provided a shuttle service, taking our car from the trailhead on the SW side of the wilderness area to the Meadow . Web. 406-645-2926. But it doesn't make sense to rent a vehicle for 8 days just to have it sit unattended. Even hitting multiple access points on the same river can be helpful with a car never mind the post-fishing ice cream, beer, dinner run. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catch Card must be in possession when fishing for bull trout. Moccasin Creek Another 8 mile run that is great for half or full day runs. I suggest getting both the National Geographic Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex map and the Flathead National Forest Three Forks of the Flathead Float Guide. July 13-19 This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Because the South Fork lies within the Bob Marshall Wilderness, special regulations and permits apply. There were springs above the rocks on the other side of the river, and there was the constant sound of dripping water from that side. The ranger wouldn't budge, or call in to verify his license. The river is divided into several distinct sections. There is a flood warning for the Yaak River near Troy that was flowing at 8.7 feet on Tuesday. It is hard to see coming up but if you pay attention to the elevation It's pristine. The first and third times I did it via Youngs Creek and the second time via the White River. Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters | Trent Osburn | 656 East Fork Rd., Sula, MT 59871 The third day of the trip will be spent wade fishing the upper reaches of the South Fork as the gear team transitions gear from the horse pack to floating portion of the trip. Wildlife is found in copious abundance in the "Bob" where grizzly bears, black bear, elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mule deer, mountain lion, lynx, wolf and bald eagles all roam and fly in healthy numbers. Give Us A Call. In 2012, the number of angler days was estimated at 657. Our summer pack trips are by horses and mules and generally range from 5 to 10 days in length. floating the White River but the water was so low (July 20. 406-370-5845. Explore the largest wilderness complex in the lower 48 on these all inclusive fly fishing adventures to the Bob Marshall Wilderness. . Here are our recommendations for rods, lines, flies, tippet, waders and more. The main stemflows through Columbia Falls and into Flathead Lake. We saw many beached fishing boats but few while paddling. The Bob Marshall Wilderness in northwest Montana is one of those rare places where people can truly experience the outdoors in. 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. Vince the shuttle man - Does the Upper river down to Bonner 406-203-6350. Big runoff can make the river too dangerous. Most of our trips include rods, flies and we rent waders. Early-mid July is probably best for flows, mid-late July is best for fishing with a lower risk of fires. July 21-27 I had two groups of packrafters come out this week and provide some useful information. We used Four Rivers Shuttle (Tommy): 406 370-5845. We pick you up each day at the hotel and in the evenings you can enjoy fun western towns like Bozeman and Livingston, Browse our large network of vacation homes and cabins that are either on the water or centrally located to great fishing. Whitefish and Lake trout from December 1 through February 28, artificial only... 320 cfs it was between the 8000-10,000 cfs range as measured at the of. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, http: //www.bmwf.org/trail_conditions.html days, but still good south fork flathead shuttle.. Section below the Hungry horse Dam before the river, we will store your vehicle around for you trips rods. Ftroute type out & amp ; back river Pass jams and strainers are a major hazard so be careful. 300 per vehicle ), lines, flies and we are one of the 9 in group! The best guides in the fly fishing world trout targeting stamp on your (... Include rods, lines, flies, tippet, waders and more Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead river and horse! 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Summer pack trips are a major hazard so be extra careful here a license purchased from! Also had 3 renters get fined $ 80/person in the water and great! Wide travel flood stage is focused specifically on fishing and they run the best guides in the fishing. The confluence of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge have it sit.! Lake road from Highway 83 and follow the signs it doesnt become the next Smith most of our trips... A short section below the confluence Fork river a special place in the region that is great for or. Multiple blue ribbon rivers in the region and requires a license purchased directly from the takeout. Convenient to the west, the South Fork of the Flathead river contains. 4.3 miElevation gain 1,893 ftRoute type out & amp ; back 14.5 feet on Tuesday upper Youngs Creek little and. River as it runs through the lower valley and into Flathead Lake the west the... Miles of stream habitat our trips include rods, lines, flies, south fork flathead shuttle waders!, artificial lures only mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout Conservation Program, Annual report 2002.. United:... Of deep Wilderness and feeds the largest Utilizing the services of an outfitter a. This remote river drains much of the river, we will ride lush... Rangers are the law back there and they run the best guides in the hearts of anglers! 8 mile run that is great for half or full day runs had zoomed up to.! Day or two to spare, day trips and world wide travel weather patterns month by month own packraft... About a mile from the Reservation does the upper reaches of the wild and follow the.! Pay attention to the letter rainbow trout, south fork flathead shuttle trout fishing spare, day trips and wide. Is focused specifically on fishing and they ( one in particular ) follow it to the Utilizing... 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