There is definitely the possibility of the river becoming permitted in the near future, but if pack rafters continue to act as low impact backpackers, there is a chance that the river will continue to be open to anyone who wants to raft it. The highest peak is 9,356-foot (2,852 m) Holland Peak, situated in the southern quarter of the range in Missoula County. All other waters in Montana are closed to intentional fishing for bull trout. Each flight leg is about $400 (so $800 per aircraft). has a restaurant that is open to the public- serving beer, brats and burgers! The next two year report will come out later this year, Rosenthal notes. Thank you Montana Angler and Rich for the awesome trip!" The South Fork is formed from the junction of Danaher Creek and Young's Creek and runs for 45 miles due north, fed by dozens of small tributaries, where it exits the wilderness near Spotted Bear Ranger Station. Having done this trip twice before at 1000 and 6000 cfs, floating through where the canyon walls narrow to less than 10 ft has been relatively easy. It's breathtaking! 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. For pricing on lodging packages visit each individual package for rates, inclusions and exclusions. Site identification number Each site in the USGS data base has a unique 8- to 15-digit identification number. From the mouth of the Stillwater River downstream to Flathead Lake, no maggots and no scented artifi cial lures (infused, saturated or applied). and you can just walk with the raft on your back and carry your rod and Call 406-370-5845 and ask for Tommy. You will hike out 3 miles from the take-out to the I seriously doubt the FS will get that totally cut out any time soon considering they have hundreds of miles of horrible blowdown to deal with from last years storms. 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. This is where all of the commercial outfitters run their rafting trips, scenic and whitewater. Ron Kopitze and Brian Rogers float the Spruce Park section of the upper Middle Fork of the Flathead River recently. Get away from it all on our extensive network of private access waters. Our summer pack trips are by horses and mules and generally range from 5 to 10 days in length. 2020 & 2021 Drop Float Trip Pricing Per Pack Mule: $300 per animal Per Riding Clients: $300 per person Per Guide/Packer: $300 $1,200 minimum per drop. Choose from over 20 fabled blue ribbon rivers that we target. The remaining three and a half days of your trip will be enjoyed travelling down river in rafts, enjoying both guided wade and float fishing, great meals on the river, and comfortable backcountry accommodations. Wild Horse is a luxury transportation service for those with distinguishing tastes. In 2018, that number had zoomed up to 1,662. 5 or so major reroutes on top. Best decision we made was to stay at. On a different trip into the Bob we had to turn around and go back because my friend's fishing license had disappeared out of his pack. Aug 2022. There will be a public road closure for the last We were told that there was ton of blowdown on the White River Trail so we didnt bother walking up it. S F Flathead River nr Columbia Falls MT. second we started from Bench Mark (West of Augusta, MT) and went in on the Streams running off the east side of the range drain into the 98-mile (158 km) South Fork Flathead River. But the truly best fishing around is accessed via a long . If you are hoping to delay this river becoming a permit river, I would suggest: 1. View Stream Flow Data. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up - sounds like there have been a ton of problems with Wild River Shuttle on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers in Idaho. The North and Middle forks of the Flathead make up the western and southern borders of Glacier National Park (making them incredibly scenic), are roadside accessible, and are the perfect getaway if you're already in the area and need to satiate that need to work a dry fly along a seam in a river. Full transparency: I own a packraft rental company. Good call Dave, I edited my post to reflect some of those ideas. We only need to get to the trailhead and then to Kalispell. I just got back from the SF Flathead. Closed to angling June 1 through September 30 within a 150-yard radius of the Big Creek stream mouth unless posted at a greater distance. There will be another sign shortly, but the river increases in speed and and not any tributaries, you also cant keep them and technically you are They also partner with Larys Fly Shop in Columbia Falls and you can drop-in the shop for current reports and trips. Hi all, Four of us have a drop in trip planned for the South Fork of the Flathead River this July. The Bob Marshall Wilderness in northwest Montana is one of those rare places where people can truly experience the outdoors By Recreational opportunities. Experience the wilds of Montana on a multi-day horse pack adventure. Its an important distinction to keep in mind, and one that multiple FS employees have emphasized in conversation. Please note: both groups ran the river when it was between the 8000-10,000 cfs range as measured at the. 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. The rivers, streams and lakes of Yellowstone National Park hold a special place in the hearts of many anglers. Drivers take extra steps to keep your rigs & trailers safe, Located on the North Fork of the Blackfoot River, Fishing Access, Boat Launch, and Campground, Fishing Access & Boat Launch with Shaded Parking. Be aware, even on the river! Information related to travelling to Montana: which airports to fly into, major towns, etc. 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. FAS site. I was a little worried about the 33 mile horseback ride, but it was scenic and fun. A link to purchase your Montana license online is also provided, Frequently asked questions related to fly fishing in Montana and about our fishing trips and packages, Montana Angler is a family run business that prides itself on working with the best guides and lodging options in Montana, Read what our guests have to say about our trips and learn why we are rated #1 in Trip Advisor and have a 5 star average on our Orvis reviews. 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 first and third time we entered the Bob (Bob Marshall Wilderness) via the Web. The South Fork Flathead River drainage contains 355 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of stream habitat. trifecta (burgers, fries and shakes), but you can mix and match with the They were super fun to be around. Upper South Fork Flathead River drainage, in Upper Youngs Creek. Nights at the Wilderness Lodge are $75/person/night (so add $150 person to stay both on arrival and departure). I learned a lot on all three trips and from talking to customers about the area and about packrafting. around it on the trail if it is intimidating. We caught more fish than I can count. It is truly wild and the Hungry Horse Reservoir dam has isolated the river, preserving westslope cutthroat genetics and bull trout populations. Choose from Montana's most comprehensive selection of fly fishing trips. Book before 10 am at 406-793-2568 or after that please text your details to 406-210-2795. These lunkers act like an anadromous species, migrating upstream every July from Hungry Horse Reservoir. It is hard to see coming up but if you pay attention to the elevation There was basically one log jam on Young's, right around the Hahn's cabin crossing. We take care of all the gear and you just sit back and relax after arriving in camp. I'm sure it has mellowed a bit with flows around 2400. The highway veers away from the river at this point if youre headed up Marias Pass towards East Glacier. Let us answer all of your questions and help you choose exceptional lodges in Chile, Argentina, Alaska and the Bahamas. But taking at the Apex of the first rapid should set up for success.". Bull trout fishing is permitted in four western district waters of Montana: Hungry Horse Reservoir, South Fork Flathead River, Lake Koocanusa and Swan Lake. We found some garbage on the river, please do your part to keep the river clean so it doesnt become the next Smith. Combined Trout: 3 daily limit and in possession, no fish over 12 inches in rivers and streams, no size limit in lakes. and the second time via the White River. Aug 2-8, June 22-28 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 . We set up all the camps, cook meals and provide two dedicated fishing guides to help you out. Thanks to the MT Pilots Assn the NW corner of the Meadow Creek airstrip has a well-maintained campground with firepits, picnic benches, a bear box, the nicest outhouse Ive ever seen, and a nice path down to the river. It is worth the view! Just found out Four Rivers Shuttle service, out of Missoula runs shuttles around the Bob. Four Rivers Shuttle 406-370-5845. 12, T.11 N., R.22 W. 12: Resident fishery. our trips were bad for mosquitoes and we have only seen one bear (black) in all If Definitely bring bear spray and hang your food, but the overall concentration of bears is pretty low in that area during the summer. Aug 2-8, June 22-28 Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. We are flying into Montana from out of state. In Flathead Lake, where they achieve trophy sizes of up to 25 pounds, the Bull Trout life cycle has been studied extensively. It is a two wave set into the pinch point. 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. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. We try to keep an up to date list of local shuttles but these are subject to change. Lodge packages include all meals and guided fishing so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a great fly fishing vacation, Enjoy great fishing and keep your costs in check with one of our hotel packages. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 14 min to complete. Fishing continues to be very good despite high flows. For overnight floats its a must. Invasive Muscles are a part of life now in Montana and raft inspections are now mandatory for all rafts entering the Bob. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. A short section below the Hungry Horse Dam makes up the final stretch before the confluence. Now Accepting Online Bookings & Credit Card Payments through Venmo. Lake trout: 100 daily and in possession, only 1 over 36 inches, and all fish 30 to 36 inches must be released. 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). I suggest taking the Hahn cabin through that section since there is a lot of blow down. Polebridge 11 miles down, this is a great option for a long day trip from the border or a shorter one from Ford. Three of us will be hiking into the top on July 15th. Planning to spend . because you wont feel rushed. July 8-July 14 July 8-July 14 The gorge below this is insane. These large predatory trout are eager to hunt well placed over-sized streamers. We will help you hand pick the perfect lodge, design a great fishing program and help coordinate all logistics from airport transfers to meeting, Explore the world's most amazing fisheries with our destination travel program. It can only be accessed by foot or horseback. 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. However, my wife and I are having a baby in November so this summer will likely be the last time I float the whole thing for a while. If you know what to do before , during, and after a flood you can increase your chances of survival and better protect your property. Im curious if anyone has a report on the status of the lodgepole trail and clearing of that going into upper youngs creek. All camping and fishing equipment is provided. Hope this was helpful, PM me if you have any specific questions or need some advice. Call them directly at 406-261-4343 or call the fly shop at 406-897-3740. Maximize your time on the water and make great memories on one of our deluxe overnight river camping trips. 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