Learn to tie Barr's Damsel with master tier Charlie Craven. Wilderness River Outfitters and Trail Expeditions Inc is licensed and insured in the State of Idaho under license number 441. n/a. This day bag is 9 inches in diameter and 20 inches tall. Can I bring my own sleeping pad/bag/tent/other gear? There will be plenty of time to fish at lunch or at camp, but your on-river fishing will be more limited. Terrestrials include grasshoppers, flying ants, and beetles. Examples in Kalispell include Sportsman's Warehouse, REI, or Cabellas. Phones can be placed in a ziploc bag or water proof case and put in your day bag if you would like to have it accessible for taking pictures during the day. See more reasons why were ranked so high on Trip Advisor . You will be responsible for the cost of lodging and dinner here that is not included in the WRO trip cost. We are located under the giant log arch on the south side of US Highway 2, 1/2 mile west of West Glacier. Set Field Guide Location. That's what I've learned during my forays to northwest Montana's South Fork of the Flathead Rivera wild cutthroat fishery that flows through the largest chunk of designated wilderness in the Lower 48. From the take out point, it is a three-mile walk to the Meadow Creek Trailhead. Most of the heavy-duty whitewater lies in the wilderness section, where the Middle Fork has a "wilderness" designation (no motors). WRO operates under National Park Service contract in Glacier Bay. Seth has worked hard to make the trip work for ALL of us. 0. Extend your river adventure with three to four days of North Fork Flathead River Rafting. The distance from the Dam to the trailhead at Meadow Creek Pack Bridge is about 50 miles, which takes about two hours. The put in and pack in are trip dependent, as different outfitters have different preferences. Operating in the Bob Marshall Wilderness since 1932. If you are floating the river, you will need to arrange transportation at the end of your journey. The hotel will provide shuttle service from the airport. In years of heavy precipitation it may not fall into shape until after the July 4 holiday. They also know how to get you from amazing point A to beautiful point B safely. Explore the Heart of Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness. Below the dam, the South Fork flows for 5 miles before entering the Flathead River just downstream from the town of Hungry Horse. South Fork Flathead River. Fine-spotted Snake River cutthroat from Wyoming were stocked in Arkansas in 1984 (Robison and Buchanan 1988). What happens if someone gets sick or injured? We recommend the most convenient lodging, which is usually where orientation is held and where group transportation will pick up and drop off guests before and after the trip. This day bag is 9 inches in diameter and 20 inches tall. If we camp above the gorge and do not raft it, we will arrive at Mid-Creek takeout and there will be a three mile hike to the Meadow Creek trailhead, which takes about an hour. We work with a number of horseback outfitters and can help you to arrange you pack in and pack out,the average number of stock used for people using traditional rafts and frames along with regular food will average 2 pack animals per person on groups of less than 4. Your wallet & cash should be placed in a Ziplock bag and taken with you on your trip. Learn to tie the RS2 with master tier Charlie Craven. How long will we be floating on the river each day? Montana also has the option to purchase a fishing license just for the time you are on the river. If driving, you will be able to leave your car at the Kalispell airport. We dedicate our river time on this trip to fishing for one of the purest strains of Westslope Cutthroat trout in the world. If there is an odd number in your group we will not make you share a tent with a stranger. Most people enjoy wearing water shoes or sturdy sandals with an ankle strap (popular options include Chacos, Tevas, and Keens). For those who seek it, the Bob is a wonderful place to find solitude, especially in the areas away from the better-known areas such as the Chinese Wall. It's a river offering a return to our fly-fishing infancies when camping and camaraderie, incredible scenery and seclusion, and catching nave trout on bushy dry flies was more paramount than the opportunity for a 20-incher. Six Montana paddlers took a five day backpacking and packrafting trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to float about 56 . Online purchases are immediately effective, but must be printed and kept on your person at all times when fishing. Address: 3763 S Lincoln Road, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858. Booking fishing-specific trips on the South Fork Flathead ensures that you have a fishing frame and a fishing guide, and will fish most of the day. Day 5-6: Well be rafting the calm and beautiful upper South Fork, floating around lazy corners and casting along undercut banks. To reach the trailhead, take FR 477 just north of Seeley Lake. We will provide transportation from Kalispell to the Rich Ranch the day before your trip is scheduled to begin. Westslope cutts prefer a big meal so use large hooks when you can (size 8-14). Scale 1:63,360 (1"=1 mile), 100-foot contours. Healthy and nutritious options are always available, and meals always include fruits and vegetables (sourced locally when we can). Several other trails that follow both sides of the river and connect to additional access points intersect at this location. In addition to guided fishing trips, we offer drop & float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Subscriber Services. If you need help finding an outfitter to help pack you out at your take out, we can provide you with some recommendations. A safe time frame to fish the river is between July 15 and October 15. 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). See more reasons why were ranked so high on Trip Advisor . The South Fork of the Flathead River is a major river in Northwestern Montana. We do offer chartered trips. Bob Marshall Wilderness, MT 1.406.644.5363. We do not provide any food or drinks for any part of the trip including the ride in. Everyone is also issued a large waterproof bag for your personal gear and clothing. From the Rich Ranch, well get an early start for our drive to the Pyramid or Holland Lake trailhead. A variety of car rentals are available should you decide to visit Glacier National Park before or after your trip. We have loved all the guides, and all the trips. The fishing we will do is primarily inside of our fishing rafts, and you will not need waders. Occasionally hiking members can pack a few beers on their personal backpack, but one can imagine we need to keep these quantities limited. One excellent float is between Big Creek and Glacier Rim, a float of about 13 miles. What fishing gear should I bring versus what WRO provides? From its beginning near Danaher Creek, the entire South Fork is floatable except during low water. Catching a South Fork bull trout will be a lasting memory for any fisherman. The river is one of the prettiest and most productive trout streams in North America. It's a long haul with more time spent in the saddle or on your feet than on the water. The trail (TR 80) parallels the east bank of the river to Black Bear Creek. During September, October, and even November, South Fork cutthroats eat everything that floats over their snouts as they gear up for a long winter. Use as your home location. In certain cases, individuals may want to supplement meals and snacks with some items of their own. River in Flathead NF, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Rocky Mountains in Hungry Horse, MT. Once in the interior, a person can spend months traversing the 2000 miles of trails that criss-cross this vast wilderness area. Day 3-5: The third morning we would head downstream on the river, stopping for some fishing along the way and camping at some beautiful riverside campsites. If our office staff is notified of an emergency they will let our crew know, but it is definitely not immediate as we are typically traveling in remote wilderness areas. You will need IGBC Approved coolers for food storage. For most trips, sneakers or a lightweight hiking boot will be fine for side hikes. Kalispell and Whitefish have limited taxi options like Uber or Lyft, so if you dont have a vehicle, staying in the recommended lodging is especially convenient. What if there is a family emergency back home? Big and plenty, these native fish average 12-20 inches, and have gotten up to 40 inches. If you park at the trailhead for an extended foray into the wilderness, pop your vehicle's hood and leave it up. The South Fork of the Flathead is by all accounts one of the world's premier rivers. We love our trips with this company! Michigan has a bunch of river called "Black" but when you add brook trout plus fly fishing in the same paragraph your talking about the "Black River" in Otsego County. Our fishing-specific trips are most likely more time focused on the water, but we encourage our fishers to also enjoy the cool side hikes that the Bob Marshall has to offer. Any rafts will need to be brought in either on your back or on horse. We will need to have our gear ready either that evening or very early the next morning (especially if youve chosen to use horse support). The trout are all wildthere is no hatchery grown fish here. Regardless of where you enter the Bob, the South Fork is a wade fishermans dream. This is the classic way WRO ran our wilderness trips, and is a wonderful way to experience this river! Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) announces 2023 River Ambassador and River Recreation/Citizen Scientist volunteer program trainings ahead of float season to enhance river safety, stewardship and . Copyright 2002 - 2022 Big Sky Fishing.Com, Introduction to the South Fork Flathead River, Photographs of the South Fork Flathead River, How to Choose the Best Inflatable Boat for Your Needs, How to Protect Your Phone While Fishing or Floating, Big Prairie Ranger Station Pack Bridge: 92, Black Bear Ranger Station Pack Bridge: 69.5, Takeout to avoid Meadow Creek Gorge: 61.6, Log Landing (take out point before Reservoir): 40. If there is an odd number in your group we will not make you share a tent with a stranger. Before the trip: The Ultimate Backcountry Flyfishing Expedition. Flip-flops are great for around camp but you need something that will stay on your feet while we are on the boats. 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. The best patterns for bull trout represent sculpins and cutthroat trout. How, where, and when do we get our fishing licenses? It has both whitewater and flat water sections. After meeting your trip leader and the other guests, we will drive as a group from Kalispell to the Rich Ranch, which is about a two hour drive. Great guides -- competent, knowledgeable and just great guys. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's Dr. Ross Boucek explains what pharmaceutical and chemical runoff and pollution could mean for Florida's shallow-saltwater gamefish. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. We need to keep soap out of the rivers in order to protect sensitive fish populations, so if you want to use soap and bathe on the trip, you need to do so above the high water mark (even biodegradable soaps). The river also runs through a deep, nearly impassable gorge for several miles (called Meadow Creek Gorge) just upstream of the pack bridge, thus forcing anglers to go further upstream to fish. Others are disappointed by the size of the fish they're catching and blame increased pressure and catch-and-release mortality on the decline. South Fork bull trout weigh up to 15 pounds or more and smack streamers, as well as the occasional cutthroat dancing on the end of an angler's line. Lastly, the trail through Pyramid Pass (TR 416) connects to a trail that follows Youngs Creek (TR 283, 141, and 125) to the junction of Danaher Creek. 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. Everyone is also issued a large waterproof bag for your personal gear and clothing. If I did not book the fishing-specific trip, can I still fish? Almost everyone walks out the 3 miles from mid creek to meadow creek trailhead. We provide deluxe, self-inflating basecamp Therm-a-rest pads. A variety of car rentals are available should you decide to visit Glacier National Park before or after your trip. Everyone is issued a waterproof day bag to carry items you will need access to during the day while on the river. The stretch between the Meadow Creek footbridge and the Spotted Bear footbridge is catch-and-release only. Cast for native trout along grassy meadows bursting with wildflowers. We stop for a short lunch break but do not provide food or drink. Feel the exhilaration of puckering whitewater rushing through a narrow gorge. In certain cases, individuals may want to supplement meals and snacks with some items of their own. We travel 6 to 10 miles a day through spectacular backcountry and most routes include one day of uphill climbing. If you are bringing a large, expensive camera, we recommend you bring a hard waterproof case in which to store it and accessories. Large, heavy stoneflies, such as Bitch Creek Nymphs and golden stonefly imitations, also work. Rich Ranch I already miss them. Your trip leader will put on an orientation around 6 pm at the Rich Ranch. The reservoir is more than 50 miles long, created by the 460-foot Hungry Horse Dam. If you need help finding an outfitter to pack you out at the end of your float, we can help provide recommendations, depending on your take out point. All guides are trained in Swiftwater Rescue. These guys have it nailed. If you're using a floating line, tie on a 12- to 14-foot leader and apply plenty of weight. Come see for yourself why the South Fork of the Flathead is a legendary wilderness fishing trip! Comfort is essential to having fun! Please be sure that hooks are single-hooked and barbless. However, the Bob is not like most other wilderness complexes, which you can simply hike across in a day or two. Why do you recommend synthetics instead of cotton? Your lead guide will give you an overview of the day each morning. Is there somewhere to purchase last-minute items before the trip? Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven. Bull trout hang near the bottom of deep pools, especially if there's a tributary nearby depositing fresh, cold, clean water. They really strive to make each person comfortable and happy! If driving, you will be able to leave your car at the Kalispell airport. If you look at the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website, it will direct you to options for online purchases or in-person vendors around Montana. Email: [emailprotected] The trip winds about 8 miles through the John F. Stevens Canyon. If you are interested for a drop camp trip for hiking and fishing, the cost would be doubled for pickup and return. The rugged area includes the landscapes of Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness areas. Temps for Trout: How to Catch Fish that Behave Hot n Cold, 2021 Fly Fisherman Father's Day Gift Guide, How to Remove Wind Knots and Snarls from Leaders and Tippet, Managing Menhaden: The Most Important Fish in the Sea, Pharmaceutical Pollution Threatens Florida's Shallow-Water Fish, Finding and Catching Trout in Mountain Lakes. If possible, we recommend bringing hard alcohol packed in non-glass containers, or bagged wine. On the third day of the float, we enter Meadow Creek Gorge and the character of the river changes dramatically. Drop float trips begin at the Monture trailhead, seven miles north of Ovando, Montana. WRO offers even a seasoned river tripper a way to be in a wilderness setting that encourages discovery and interaction as well as makes you feel safe and part of something special. There will be plenty of opportunities to try out the superb fishing, and well take some time to wander through the beautiful Ponderosa Parks, for opportunities to possibly see wildlife and soak in the scenery. We do a lot of DIY rafting trips, so our group had high expectations. The South Fork Flathead is one of the most beautiful and productive trout streams in North America. 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. These mid to late summer expeditions are best experienced when this high country river flows low and clear, and trout willingly rise to attractor patterns. What will temperatures and weather be like? Lower Youngs Creek also has some good fishing. Just be careful not to spook the fishthe waters of the South Fork of the Flathead River are crystal clear. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. This cold water pretty much killed off the fishing in the South Fork below the dam during the summer, and greatly affected the aquatic hatches on the main stem of the Flathead as well. We usually start floating when the sun hits the water each day and arrive in camp late afternoon. Wilderness River Outfitters and Trail Expeditions Inc is an equal opportunity provider. During July, the South Fork is one of the only rivers in America where you can target bull trout. You will also catch fewer small fish because the large flies are difficult for small fish to inhale. If you fish after mid-October, carry appropriate winter clothing and survival gear. Be aware of your black and grizzly bear neighbors when camping. Please be mindful of this when making up your gear for the trip. Several guide services located around the Bob provide packing services, and can pack in gear for the floaters without a horse. The whitewater is thrilling with a series of class III and IV+ whitewater. Additionally, from Meadow Creek Pack Bridge (near the wilderness area boundary) down to Spotted Bear footbridge, it is all catch and release and only artificial lures may be used. Floating Montana: 5 Favorite River Floats, Pale Morning Dun #12-16 Hoppers #6-10 Royal Wulff #10-14 Elk Hair Caddis #8-16 Parachute Caddis 10-16 Stimulator #6-12 Royal Trude #8-16 Parachute Adams #10-18, Lightning bug #12-18 Humpy #10-14 Girdle bug #4-8 Montana Nymph #6-12 Bead Head Prince Nymph #10-16 Bead Head Pheasant Tail #12-18 Bead Head Hares Ear #8-16, One or two changes of outer clothes should be adequate (use layering method), Long johns are a good idea, particularly the new high tech wicking, quick drying materials, Foot gear: light weight hiking boots serve well as combination riding and hiking boots, Rain gear can bea saddle slicker, poncho, or rain suit, Pillow case stuffed with a jacket or sweater makes a comfy pillow, Pack everything in one soft luggage or duffel bag, Maximum weight of bag should be 50 pounds. Flathead is by all accounts one of the trip around camp but you need something that will stay on back! 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