As the river flows through this gorge, the river becomes extremely narrow with big drops and sharp turns. The river is a dry-fly mecca, and it’s one of the few places in America where you can legally target bull trout. Access to the South Fork is by foot or horseback. and a good fishing guide as well. With this modificationt, the dam now releases water that has the same temperature as the Flathead River five miles downstream. Trip Reports with Photos. Most travelers to the wilderness complex do not come here to fish. What I did not count on were the great people…Brooklyn got us started great and was a pleasure…. South Fork Flathead River. This gin-clear river runs through the Bob Marshall Wilderness for nearly its full length, south to north. While the river is deep in spots, the river should pose no challenges to the alert wade fisherman. T. Trapper Guest. Home › Forums › Campfire › Post-Trip Reports › South Fork of the Flathead, Bob Marshall Wilderness. 1; 2; 3; First Prev 3 of 3 Go to page. It was amazing what he can do out there…. Backstory. The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. They are all intelligent and great young men and went above and beyond to make things interesting fun. From there, the South Fork trail more or less follows the river throughout its journey in the wilderness area. Story by Eric Hanson, Photos by Jacob Moon. You even arranged for good weather. 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. 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. On the South Fork of the Flathead, I am pleased to report, enterprising anglers can find remote campsites, solitude, and scads of native westslope cutthroat. We’re here to ensure that you end up in the right place, at the right time, and with all the right information… at no additional cost to you. Aug 17, 2018 #31 Salmo_g said: Nice pics Trapper. This should lead to significantly better fishing in both the South Fork below the dam and for the Flathead River in the years ahead. The North Fork creates the western boundary line of Glacier National Park and provides some spectacular views inside the Park. Grizzly bears, moose, elk and wolves all call the Bob home. The reservoir is more than 50 miles long, created by the 460-foot Hungry Horse Dam. The bull trout is a threatened species and can reach 40 inches long. There are some parts of the Middle, North, and South Fork Flathead River areas, which are part of government lands, so Montana Fishing Guides does not offer trips in those areas. After traveling more than 40 miles, the South Fork finally leaves the protected wilderness area, and begins to follow the reservoir roads for another 20 miles until spilling into the Hungry Horse Reservoir. The heaviest use in the Bob occurs in the fall, during hunting season. The South Fork of the Flathead River begins deep in the heart of Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, one of the nations largest designated wilderness areas. One of the best flyfishing streams but it’s a long, dusty 50-mile drive on bumpy gravel roads to Spotted Bear. This is about 2 miles south of the Trailhead, and requires a short walk to the river. I went in from the Lodgepole TH over Young's Pass and down to Babcock Creek where I put on and started floating. and then I can not say enough about Shaun, Pat, Colby, and Coleman. Thanks again for all your help and efforts, the memories will last a lifetime.”, Yellow Dog lodge Page: http://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com/destinations-united-states-montana/south-fork-flathead. But when photographer Jacob Moon and his wife Natasha invited me to go packrafting on the South Fork of the Flathead… And the pack in is neither quick nor easy—any pack in requires covering at least 25 miles or more of mountainous terrain. We just received a great report from our clients on their South Fork of the Flathead adventure. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. July 15, 2019. by John Nestler. The catch is, of course, the best fishing is found well above the Meadow Creek Pack Bridge, as far fewer people fish upstream than at the much more accessible trailhead. A diversity of fish and wildlife complement the land and water resources, and contribute to both the natural and cultural values of the Flathead Basin environment. Dates: June 27th – July 1st, 2019. The North Fork creates the western boundary line of Glacier National Park and provides some spectacular views inside the Park. Section: Schafer Meadows to Paola Access Area. For more information on the South Fork of the Flathead, or other adventures, give us a call here at the Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures office! Fishing pressure is very low in the wilderness area compared to virtually any other Montana river. Any rafts will need to be brought in either on your back or on horse. A Seat with a View on the South Fork Flathead River. From this point, you can float another 18 scenic miles to Hungry Horse Reservoir. South Fork Flathead River upstream from Hungry Horse Reservoir. The headwaters of the North Fork of the Flathead originate in Canada and flow south into the United States. The reason for that is two fold. patient, enthusiastic, and he put us on fish. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD. Camped out along the South Fork Flathead River. The river meanders its way through some of the most spectacular country a rafter could hope to find. To avoid going through this gorge, any floater must be prepared to pack out their gear (you just can’t float out to your car). Pretty much any caddis fly or mayfly imitation in size 10-14 works just fine. Terrestrial patterns, particularly hoppers, also are excellent to use in July and August. The trout are all wild—there is no hatchery grown fish here. Upon reaching the Meadow Creek Pack Bridge, it is a short hike into the wilderness. 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. The east side road (through Martin City) is straighter but gets more traffic. This is in addition to the local wildlife that can make any trip an interesting and memorable experience. IT WAS PERFECT!!!! Thread starter myt1; Start date Aug 7, 2019; myt1 Well-known member. 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. Coleman…well I actually took pictures of the meals…and I don’t do that shit. Numerous Class II, III and IV rapids exist in this gorge. Due to the remote setting and the difficulty and expense of bringing in rafts, the river is relatively free of floaters, allowing for a peaceful, scenic float. Read this guide to learn the importance of a fly reel and how to select a good one. … The South Fork of the Flathead River is home to native Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. South Fork Flathead River Fly Fishing is the best you will find anywhere – period. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. The result is that anglers now sometimes struggle to catch fish that are small enough to keep. View detailed fishing guide books & river maps for Montana. The Bob has been on my radar for years, because inside The Bob is one of the greatest multi-day float trips in America: the South Fork of the Flathead River. Learn more about these fun boats. With near freezing water no longer flowing through the river during the middle of the summer, insect hatches have improved significantly on both the South Fork and the main stem of the Flathead River. This has important implications. The South Fork of the Flathead River begins deep in the heart of Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, one of the nations largest designated wilderness areas. The cost for riding animals is $300 if going into the Gordon Creek confluence and $325 if going into the Hahn Creek Cabin. Great fishing trips don’t just happen. 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. Packrafting opened up a world of adventure for me. 2 thoughts on “ South Fork Flathead flow guide ” Sam Barber July.6.2015 — 13:16 We are planning on taking 3 14′ rafts in, and floating from Gordon creek to Mid creek the 13th – 18th of July. South Fork Flathead DATES: For information on scheduling a South Fork Flathead trip in 2020, inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Access to the wilderness complex is excellent, with dozens of trails threading their way from easily accessible trailheads along the perimeter of the wilderness. South Fork of the Flathead, Bob Marshall Wilderness. Trip Report South Fork Flathead River, Bob Marshall Wilderness. Fly reels do more than just hold line. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. The South Fork is the favorite of the Flatheads. The 2020 Yellow Dog Flyfishing Travel Guide is here! Either way, it’s a long way in from any trailhead to reach the river. The best place to exit the river is at mile 61.6, which is marked by a small sign. in Packrafting, Trip Report, Photography, Camping. Salmon Forks Outfitters offers a one-of-a-kind horseback fly fishing trip to the headwaters of the famed South Fork of the Flathead River. The river provides outstanding fishing for native Montana trout in a remote and beautiful setting. Colby…. The road also has a reputation of being hard on tires, so make sure you have a good full size spare or two. The distance from the Dam to the trailhead at Meadow Creek Pack Bridge is about 50 miles, which takes about two hours. 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. Prior to this modification, all water released came from the bottom of the dam – where the water was coldest. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD September 24, 2014 Wade fishing is also the most popular way to fish the South Fork of the Flathead River, simply because getting a raft into the wilderness area is no easy feat. 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. The trail had been cleared to the Jenny Creek / Young's confluence and was in good shape. It's a river offering a return to our fly-fishing infancies when camping and camaraderie, incredible scenery and seclusion, and catching naïve trout on bushy dry flies was more paramount than the opportunity for a 20-incher. Once in the interior, a person can spend months traversing the 2000 miles of trails that criss-cross this vast wilderness area. ... Southfork of the Flathead Trip '14 HD - Duration: ... Part 2- The South Fork Flathead River - Duration: 47:10. South Fork Flathead fishing-specific trip: July 18th – 25th, 2020. Copyright 2002 - 2020 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. And not a single service will be found, so bring whatever you need, as you won’t be able to buy something if you forget it. Streams. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. The Bob is not a National Park, where a traveler is likely to bump into countless hordes of people wandering its trails. Dispose of all entrails and uneaten portions far away from where you are camped. Several guide services located around the Bob provide packing services, and can pack in gear for the floaters without a horse. Hungry Horse Dam was modified in the mid 1990’s to allow it to draw water from any depth of the reservoir. The fishing in this stretch, however, has a chance to become a much better fishery in the years ahead. If you will be riding instead of walking, we will provide you with a horse and all necessary tack and saddle bags for your trip into the South Fork of the Flathead River. 2. Weather is highly changeable, with summer snows not uncommon. Trip Report: South Fork of the Flathead, Montana. Being from the desert, the idea of hauling a raft deep into the wilderness was fairly novel. RATES: General South Fork Flathead trip rates: inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. South Fork of the Flathead River Long before I had a bucket list and two pack donkeys, I yearned to hike up the South Fork of the Flathead River. 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