In order to keep these places beautiful for years to come, all rivers are pack it in, pack it out. We bring fabulous portable toilets and handwashing stations that we place in a private location away from camp with the best bathroom view you will ever have. Our guides are knowledgeable with flies, the waters of the South Fork, and all aspects of fly-fishing, and they are ready to advise if you need assistance. We will pack your gear and your float equipment and can also pack you in if you aren't up for the long hike into the South Fork of the Flathead River. The trail (TR 80) parallels the east bank of the river to Black Bear Creek. Almost everyone walks out the 3 miles from mid creek to meadow creek trailhead. Online purchases are immediately effective, but must be printed and kept on your person at all times when fishing. 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. WRO provides ample snacks as well as plenty of drinking water, fruit juices, and coffee, tea, and cream in the morning. How do the bathroom systems work on the trip? Hungry Horse Dam was modified in the mid 1990s to allow it to draw water from any depth of the reservoir. 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. Can I stay at a different hotel than your recommended options before the trip? The river is navigable for up to 6 miles upstream from its confluence with the South Fork. Paiute (Moyle 1976a), Yellowstone (Dill and Cordone . Can WRO accommodate dietary restrictions/ allergies? Montana Fishing Regulations. We pack you, your gear and your float equipment to the confluence of Young's and Danaher Creeks where the South Fork of the Flathead River begins. If I did not book the fishing-specific trip, can I still fish? The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. 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 South Fork Flathead is one of our most remote trips, which makes the experience extremely unique and rewarding. Feel the exhilaration of puckering whitewater rushing through a narrow gorge. Applications are free from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Kalispell or online. This should lead to significantly better fishing in both the South Fork below the dam and for the Flathead River in the years ahead. For most trips you will need two pairs of shoes, one to wear in the boats and one to wear hiking and around camp. Site name This is the official name of the site in the database. 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. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. *Itinerary and route to river is subject to change based on the desired hiking and whitewater interest of the group. Available in both print and digital. This is because if they break, it is very disruptive to the mules, and can cause a whole mule crash. How does the bathroom system work during the trip? However, if you want to match the South Fork's hatches, expect to see a smattering of Pale Morning Duns, caddis, and stoneflies. Prior to this modification, all water released came from the bottom of the dam where the water was coldest. Hike past pristine mountain lakes and snow-covered peaks. For the Meadow Creek Gorge section, it is intense, exciting whitewater, and depending on the weather, you will probably want to consider having extra layers and splash gear. I spell all of this out in the contract as well. And how will any future camping cuisine compare to the food we experienced on this journey? Weather can be variable in the Montana wilderness, so be sure to have warm layers for around camp. The whitewater is thrilling with a series of class III and IV+ whitewater. Delta, Alaska/Horizon, United, Allegiant, Frontier and US Airways offer flights into Glacier International Airport (GPI). A Seat with a View on the South Fork Flathead River. Being in shape for riding will make your ride more enjoyable, especially the first day. Overnight bags and sleep kits will be available on the trail the first night. About the closest you can get to the river by vehicle is by using the long and curvy West Reservoir Road that crosses the Hungry Horse Dam and meanders around Hungry Horse Reservoir. Rain is always possible, but trips earlier in the season are more likely to see precipitation and/or cooler temperatures than mid to late summer trips. If you are interested for a drop camp trip for hiking and fishing, the cost would be doubled for pickup and return. If you are floating the river, you will need to arrange transportation at the end of your journey. August 12th-17th: Dreamy Late Season on the Middle Fork. Day 1: We will make packed lunches at the Rich Ranch. We will provide transportation from Kalispell to the Rich Ranch the day before your trip is scheduled to begin. USGS. You will head to the trail the next morning (the official starting date of your trip) and start the hike or pack in. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River was a major part of the inspiration for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the strongest protection a river in the United States can have. Fine-spotted Snake River cutthroat from Wyoming were stocked in Arkansas in 1984 (Robison and Buchanan 1988). Join us for eight wonderful days in the incredible Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana. If flows are not right for the gorge or clients do not wish to run it, we will camp the final night above the gorge. Several guide services located around the Bob provide packing services, and can pack in gear for the floaters without a horse. People using pack rafts, dehydrated food and backpacking gear get by with dramatically less. The South Fork of the Flathead is by all accounts one of the world's premier rivers. Day 2: Finish off the hike or horseback ride to the river put in where we will meet the rafts and the guides. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan takes us along on a fly-fishing trip into the Montana mountains to show where, how, and why to catch trout in alpine lakes. The result is that anglers now sometimes struggle to catch fish that are small enough to keep. Half-Day Scenic Float Full-Day Whitewater With Riverside Lunch . Depending on the route in, over the first two days we will cover about 20-25 miles either by foot or by livestock. Big and plenty, these native fish average 12-20 inches. Come see for yourself why the South Fork of the Flathead is a guide favorite! Lakestream in Whitefish and Larrys Fly Shop in Columbia Falls are good local fly shops to go to beforehand, and a few more limited sport stores like Sportsman's Warehouse and Cabellas in Kalispell. Please contact our office ahead of time to arrange logistics if you need to be picked up. 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. Just when your feet are getting a bit heavy, we reach the cool, clear waters of the South Fork. When booking your trip, you will need to know your pack-in preference, and horse reservations need to be arranged ahead of time through WRO. This is dependent on the area you are fishing, but for all rivers you will need single, barbless hooks without bait. Hikers and horse riders can follow a trail (TR 110) to Big Salmon Lake and its outlet into the South Fork. WRO provides ample snacks as well as plenty of drinking water, fruit juices, and coffee, tea, and cream in the morning. 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). They also keep you warmer when wet. The drive back to Kalispell is about 3 hours. Lazy J Bar O Outfitters, Big Timber, MT 59011, United States. South Fork Flathead River upstream from Hungry Horse Reservoir. This dry fly can be tied to match any mayfly. One excellent float is between Big Creek and Glacier Rim, a float of about 13 miles. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. As the fishing boats arrive, some of the crew will start getting appetizers ready and finish camp setup. Though cutthroat are found throughout its length, the best fishing is between the Meadow Creek Trailhead and Black Bear Creek. The South Fork of the Flathead is no different from other Western rivers, and you should expect to encounter other anglers and campers and be passed by pack trainsbut it's not the end of the world. We are currently working with Seth to go on a trip to the South Fork of the Flathead at the end of July. Oar frames are very heavy to pack in on mule strings, so we try to stick to paddle boats when a fishing frame is not needed. 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. Is there somewhere to purchase last-minute items before the trip? Hopper patterns, chubby trinobles, purple haze, parachute adams, humpies, ants, beetles, and general terrestrial patterns are popular flies in this region. Designated Wilderness Areas are protected to remain wild and free. If you need any specialized clothing or equipment from saddle slickers to sleeping bags, canteens, or underwear, let us know. Website: richranch.com. 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). After unloading the mules that pack the gear out, we will meet the vehicles and WRO will provide transportation back to Kalispell. EVE BYRON. There is a take out just before the Meadow Creek Gorge with good access and plenty of room to load gear onto horses or mules. The rapids are rated class 2 and 3, making for a fun and . The distance from the Dam to the trailhead at Meadow Creek Pack Bridge is about 50 miles, which takes about two hours. On our adventure South Fork trips, we use a mix of paddle rafts and inflatable kayaks; some people can try different boat options. 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. Explore all WRO trips on our interactive map . Why do you recommend synthetics instead of cotton? 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. How old does my child have to be to participate? Upon reaching the Meadow Creek Pack Bridge, it is a short hike into the wilderness. And return sure to have warm layers for around camp paiute ( Moyle 1976a ), (... Fun and is spectacular, as the fishing boats arrive, some of the in! 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