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. We provide deluxe, self-inflating basecamp Therm-a-rest pads. However, a raft and gear must be packed in on horseback and only experienced oarsmen should float the South Forkthere is a lot of whitewater and yearly natural changes can make several rapids not navigable. We will have lunch on the trail and camp on the trail the first night after about 16 miles. On the other hand, braving this season has its advantages. We offer brands like Mountain Hardware, North Face, and Sierra Designs. 12359800. n/a. The Bob is not a National Park, where a traveler is likely to bump into countless hordes of people wandering its trails. All of our trip leaders are certified Wilderness First Responders, along with the majority of our other highly capable guides, several of whom are Wilderness EMTs. Pretty much any caddis fly or mayfly imitation in size 10-14 works just fine. WRO operates under special recreation permits on BLM land. Operating in the Bob Marshall Wilderness since 1932. With the hood down, the vehicle is a prime target for packrats. Others are disappointed by the size of the fish they're catching and blame increased pressure and catch-and-release mortality on the decline. The only items you should have with you for the horseback ride are: full water bottle, camera, rain gear, fleece jacket or sweater, hat, and riding clothes. A Seat with a View on the South Fork Flathead River. The White River has adequate flows through early July. Storms can also roll in unexpectedly, and its best to be prepared for anything. As the fishing boats arrive, some of the crew will start getting appetizers ready and finish camp setup. Option 3, the Confluence/Headwaters of the South Fork of the Flathead is an option during the entire float season, but after August 1, is generally the best option due to lower water conditions. Backpacking, Horseback Riding, Rafting, Wildlife, Fishing, Hiking. You will need to arrange lodging and dinner reservations for the night before your launch date at the Rich Ranch. We will need to have our gear ready that evening or very early the next morning (especially if youve chosen to use horse support). Examples in Kalispell include Sportsman's Warehouse, REI, or Cabellas. Rates are $300 per animal for both riding and pack animals. With no roads or airstrips, everything is horse-packed to the put inits the real Montana experience! Day 4-7: As we continue on, well be rafting the calm and beautiful upper South Fork, floating around lazy corners and casting along undercut banks. Our max load per pack animal is 150 pounds. Healthy and nutritious options are always available, and meals always include fruits and vegetables (sourced locally when we can). Quick-dry clothing, layers, and sun protection are the most important things to keep in mind. (What you will eventually pack into your river day bag. What does the hike/ trail ride to the put-in entail for the South Fork Flathead? These are very comfortable and fit very nicely in our gear bags. Fly-fishing can also be quite difficult around Meadow Creek Pack Bridge and upstream for a number of miles since the river is cloaked in dense forest. We will pack your gear and your float equipment and can also pack you in if you arent up for the long hike into the South Fork of the Flathead River. Once in the interior, a person can spend months traversing the 2000 miles of trails that criss-cross this vast wilderness area. 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. WRO operates under special use permits on the Salmon-Challis and Flathead National Forests. 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. If there is an odd number in your group we will not make you share a tent with a stranger. How big are the waterproof bags and how much stuff can they hold? Our experienced packers will weigh and pack your gear so that you can have an early start the next morning. How big are the waterproof bags and how much stuff can they hold? They will not pamper you but will instead tease out your best self to feel as if you belong in the wilderness. Day Before: Travel to Kalispell, Montana (FCA) no later than 3 pm. There is one rapid section below the dam called Devils Elbow, with two short Class IV rapids. 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. They also know how to get you from amazing point A to beautiful point B safely. Carry bear spray and store food in airtight containers hung from trees away from camp. Fine-spotted Snake River cutthroat from Wyoming were stocked in Arkansas in 1984 (Robison and Buchanan 1988). 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. Feel the exhilaration of puckering whitewater rushing through a narrow gorge. Westslope cutthroats are blue-collar fish that work hard for their living. Absaroka River Adventures, Absarokee Absaroka River Adventures Something went wrong. We discourage bringing any unnecessary valuables on your trip. Copyright 2023 Wilderness River Outfitters. USGS. From the Rich Ranch, well get an early start for our drive to the Pyramid or Holland Lake trailhead. Hopper patterns, chubby trinobles, purple haze, parachute adams, humpies, ants, beetles, and general terrestrial patterns are popular flies in this region. The best patterns for bull trout represent sculpins and cutthroat trout. The Flathead River itself is over 200 miles long from its northernmost point to where it meets the Clark Fork River northwest of Missoula. The Bob Marshall Wilderness covers more than 1 million acres and is home to the South Fork of the Flathead River. Please contact our office ahead of time to arrange logistics if you need to be picked up. 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 nose-diving U.S. economy has persuaded many families in recent years to put costly and exotic vacation plans on hold . If you park at the trailhead for an extended foray into the wilderness, pop your vehicle's hood and leave it up. Travel to Kalispell, Montana (FCA) no later than 3 pm one day prior to your trips launch date. Grizzly bears, moose, elk and wolves all call the Bob home. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions or allergies as early as possible so that we can adjust the menu accordingly. and spend the night. With these trips being in the middle of the summer, the temperatures are very pleasant and walk-and-wade fishing from the bank and on side streams can be done without waders. The last day includes a casual float and fishing from the boat. These guys have it nailed. WRO guides bring a spare rod, a handful of popular flies, and leader and tippet, but we recommend guests bring their own 5 weight rod (cutthroat) and 6-8 weight rod (targeting bull trout), as well as their own fishing accessories and flies. Listen to the River, from Wild Confluence Films, is the story of a classic summertime river adventure gone awry.In 2015, a crew of friends set out on the South Fork Flathead River in Montana's Bob . Below the dam, the South Fork flows for 5 miles before entering the Flathead River just downstream from the town of Hungry Horse. We travel 6 to 10 miles a day through spectacular backcountry and most routes include one day of uphill climbing. However, if you want to match the South Fork's hatches, expect to see a smattering of Pale Morning Duns, caddis, and stoneflies. If you are bringing a large, expensive camera, we recommend you bring a hard waterproof case in which to store it and accessories. Phone: (406) 677-2317 Quick-dry clothing, layers, and sun protection are the most important things to keep in mind. WRO provides ample snacks as well as plenty of drinking water, fruit juices, and coffee, tea, and cream in the morning. If I did not book the fishing-specific trip, can I still fish? We do not have a packer or wrangler fee and do not charge for any animals that the packers or wranglers are riding or any pack animals we need to pack in our gear for staying over night. Can I stay at a different hotel than your recommended options before the trip? 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. In addition to guided fishing trips, we offer drop & float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Due to the fact that the South Fork of the Flathead River starts deep in the wilderness area and flows for more than 40 miles through the heart of the complex, simply getting to the South Fork is an adventure in itself. Cast for native trout along grassy meadows bursting with wildflowers. 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). It appeared in the June-July 2010 issue of Fly Fisherman. Under the surface try Pheasant-Tails, Hare's-ears, Prince Nymphs, golden stonefly nymphs, caddis pupae, and Brassies. 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. Subscriber Services. The North Fork Flathead River is a wonderful river to float. Applications are free from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Kalispell or online. Please contact our office ahead of time to arrange logistics if you need to be picked up. Evacuation plans are in place for each trip in case of an emergency, and a satellite communication device is carried at all times. What will temperatures and weather be like? Depending on the route in, over the first two days we will cover about 20-25 miles either by foot or by livestock. If you are planning to target bull trout, A Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catch Card must be in possession. August 12th-17th: Dreamy Late Season on the Middle Fork. You must also possess a bull trout catch card if you intend to fish for them. You will head to the trail the next morning (the official starting date of your trip) and start the hike or pack in. Everyone is also issued a large waterproof bag for your personal gear and clothing. Wilderness River Outfitters and Trail Expeditions Inc is licensed and insured in the State of Idaho under license number 441. The three forks offer opportunities for day floats from vehicle accessed sites, thrilling whitewater stretches, and permitted guided trips for day and overnight experiences. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. 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. Located in the 1.5 million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness, America's first-ever designated wilderness area, the South Fork is formed from Danaher Creek and Young's Creek junction. Will it be cold? Lunches are a combination of tasty salads, sandwiches, fruits, and assorted snacks. Awesome trip! Check out more about the Flathead River. Middle Fork Flathead River. The hotel will provide shuttle service from the airport. They are most appreciative of receiving this directly from the guest, either at the end of your trip or at the farewell dinner, so we recommend planning ahead to have cash or checks on hand. You are welcome to stay wherever youd like as long as you are at 1) orientation the evening before your trip and 2) your trips designated pickup location ready for departure the morning your trip begins. We try to arrive back to Kalispell late afternoon on the last day of your trip if running the gorge, but will typically arrive closer to early evening if hiking out, as you are dealing with additional logistic factors. Most of the guides also use Venmo. Do we have to share a tent with someone else? The river provides outstanding fishing for native Montana trout in a remote and beautiful setting. Also wash off all pans and utensils thoroughly, and leave them away from camp too. We often have dinner together, and you will spend this first night at the Rich Ranch lodging. Join us for eight wonderful days of luxury camping and dry fly-fishing in the incredible Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana! Montana also has the option to purchase a fishing license just for the time you are on the river. Rafts typically take one and a half pack animals, two rafts take three pack animals, and max load weight per pack animal is 150lbs. Bicycling is useful because it helps prepare your posterior as well as the rest of your body. This is dependent on the area you are fishing, but for all rivers you will need single, barbless hooks without bait. Enjoy an exciting half-day Glacier National Park whitewater rafting trip on the middle fork section of the Flathead River. We can have it ready for you to purchase or rent when you arrive. We provide transportation back to Kalispell from either the Meadow Creek trailhead after a three mile hike if not running the gorge (1 hour hike, 3 hour drive plus mule packing gear unload), or from the Spotted Bear Bridge takeout (3 hour drive) if rafting the gorge. I highly recommend them! Prior to this modification, all water released came from the bottom of the dam where the water was coldest. Unlike other wilderness floats (such as on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho), the river is not over-run by rafting parties, since the only way to put a raft into the South Fork of the Flathead is by packing it in. Rates are $300 per animal for both riding and pack animals. Each trip is tailored to the desires of the guests, but generally we will be on the water a total of 5 or so hours each day (give or take a couple of hours), broken by a lunch stop and any other side adventures. The fishing we will do is primarily inside of our fishing rafts, and you will not need waders. Most travelers to the wilderness complex do not come here to fish. WRO will happily do our best to accommodate any dietary restrictions at no additional cost! The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. Hopefully, the catch and release restrictions wont bother you since you catch and release all fish anyway! Extend your river adventure with three to four days of North Fork Flathead River Rafting. WRO operates under special use permits on the Salmon-Challis and Flathead National Forests. Occasionally hiking members can pack a few beers on their personal backpack, but one can imagine we need to keep these quantities limited. 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. The South Fork is marginal habitata stream that flows through mostly sterile, granite corridors. 0. Find out why the Chippewa River is the best lazy river for tubing in Michigan with Chippewa River Outfitters. Lower Youngs Creek also has some good fishing. This cold, clear water flows into the North, South and Middle forks of the Flathead, which merge together near Columbia Falls to begin a southward journey. The South Fork of the Flathead, located in the heart of theBob 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. 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