Go. One of the best flyfishing streams but it’s a long, dusty 50-mile drive on bumpy gravel roads to Spotted Bear. Trip Insurance / Emergency Evacuation Coverage, http://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com/destinations-united-states-montana/south-fork-flathead, Destinations / All Saltwater Destinations, Destinations / All Freshwater Destinations, Destinations / Central America & Caribbean. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD We just received a great report from our clients on their South Fork of the Flathead adventure. The best place to exit the river is at mile 61.6, which is marked by a small sign. Day 2 – Relax. Trip Reports with Photos. And cooking fish, especially over an open fire, produces a powerful aroma—an aroma that grizzly bears just love. You haven't lived until … South Fork of the Flathead, Bob Marshall Wilderness. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD September 24, 2014 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 … 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. The trail had been cleared to the Jenny Creek / Young's confluence and was in good shape. the South Fork of the Flathead River should remain a favorite for the explorer type of angler for a long time. Length: 38 miles. The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the best packraft river in the lower-48. To reach this section of the river, though, requires going down a rather steep and hazardous put-in at the dam. View detailed fishing guide books & river maps for Montana. The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. Hopefully, the catch and release restrictions won’t bother you since you catch and release all fish anyway! Thread starter myt1; Start date Aug 7, 2019; myt1 Well-known member. Streams. IT WAS PERFECT!!!! The fishing in this stretch, however, has a chance to become a much better fishery in the years ahead. Camped out along the South Fork Flathead River. July 15, 2019. by John Nestler. The North Fork creates the western boundary line of Glacier National Park and provides some spectacular views inside the Park. Colby…. Aug 17, 2018 #31 Salmo_g said: Nice pics Trapper. South Fork Flathead River upstream from Hungry Horse Reservoir. 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). While the river is deep in spots, the river should pose no challenges to the alert wade fisherman. Backpacking gear is needed for the angler without a horse to fish the South Fork above the Hungry Horse Reservoir, as the only access to the river is by trail. Trip Report South Fork Flathead River, Bob Marshall Wilderness. It is very scenic. I will not hesitate recommending you guys to friends. The river is a dry-fly mecca, and it’s one of the few places in America where you can legally target bull trout. 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. Regardless of where you enter the Bob, the South Fork is a wade fisherman’s dream. The reservoir is more than 50 miles long, created by the 460-foot Hungry Horse Dam. Just got off the Flathead and thought I would give a quick conditions report for everyone. The river meanders its way through some of the most spectacular country a rafter could hope to find. This has important implications. 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. Messages 1,371 Reaction score 31 Location Scottsdale, AZ. Story by Eric Hanson, Photos by Jacob Moon. This is about 2 miles south of the Trailhead, and requires a short walk to the river. Hungry Horse Dam was modified in the mid 1990’s to allow it to draw water from any depth of the reservoir. The road also has a reputation of being hard on tires, so make sure you have a good full size spare or two. With this modificationt, the dam now releases water that has the same temperature as the Flathead River five miles downstream. 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. Of course, this remote setting has its benefits. Always clean and dry all your gear after each trip. We just received a great report from our clients on their South Fork of the Flathead adventure. Since the fishing pressure is low, the trout aren’t horribly picky about what they will take. Special regulations and limits apply when fishing in the wilderness portion of the South Fork. 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. Prior to this modification, all water released came from the bottom of the dam – where the water was coldest. A Seat with a View on the South Fork Flathead River. You even arranged for good weather. In many areas the North Fork widens up and braids in between Glacier National Park and National Forest Service lands. Trip Reports. Either way, it’s a long way in from any trailhead to reach the river. Montana's South Fork of the Flathead River: Information provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: The South Fork Flathead River originates at the confluence of Danaher and Youngs creeks in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area and flows north, unimpeded for over half its length. Great fishing trips don’t just happen. Access to the South Fork is by foot or horseback. Coleman…well I actually took pictures of the meals…and I don’t do that shit. South Fork Flathead DATES: For information on scheduling a South Fork Flathead trip in 2020, inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. 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. The reason for that is two fold. “My hopes for the trip were (if you recall) in order of importance. South Fork Flathead Itinerary Day 1 – Pack Up and Ride. Learn more about these fun boats. 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. Up until reaching Meadow Creek Gorge 40 miles later, described later, the river presents no special challenges to a rafter. South Fork Flathead River Fly Fishing is the best you will find anywhere – period. The distance from the Dam to the trailhead at Meadow Creek Pack Bridge is about 50 miles, which takes about two hours. South Fork Flathead fishing-specific trip: July 18th – 25th, 2020. The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. The South Fork only flows for 5 miles below Hungry Horse Dam before the river ends at the confluence of the Flathead River. Weather is highly changeable, with summer snows not uncommon. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. 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. 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. These guys really made the trip FUN. Once in the interior, a person can spend months traversing the 2000 miles of trails that criss-cross this vast wilderness 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! Flow: 4,300 – 3,400 cfs @ MF Flathead West Glacier Gauge. 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. 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. “My hopes for the trip were (if you recall) in order of importance A Great Time with my Boys Great scenery away from the … From this point, you can float another 18 scenic miles to Hungry Horse Reservoir. Youngs creek has some incredible fishing. The heaviest use in the Bob occurs in the fall, during hunting season. Fishing pressure is very low in the wilderness area compared to virtually any other Montana river. Failure to take these precautions is likely to lead to uninvited and probably unwanted guests with large claws and teeth probing your campsite during the night. To even contemplate going through this gorge will require a very small, tough raft, whitewater inflatable kayak or hard shell kayak, as any large raft is quite likely to get frequently stuck and require countless portages. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. patient, enthusiastic, and he put us on fish. Fly reels do more than just hold line. 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. From there, the South Fork trail more or less follows the river throughout its journey in the wilderness area. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a truly remote stream. Plan to spend a quiet day, beginning with breakfast at your leisure. Speaking for Trent and myself, we did not want the trip to end. The 2020 Yellow Dog Flyfishing Travel Guide is here! But when photographer Jacob Moon and his wife Natasha invited me to go packrafting on the South Fork of the Flathead… The South Fork of the Flathead River is Montana’s crown jewel in terms of remote rivers. 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. Years of guiding in western Montana during the summers provided me with great exposure to Montana's fabled waters, but the idea of fishing for pure strain Westslope cutthroats in the heart of the Bob Marshall Complex nagged at me right into retirement. Any fish you catch while in the wilderness area will have to be eaten there. The Bob is not a National Park, where a traveler is likely to bump into countless hordes of people wandering its trails. Below the dam, the South Fork flows for 5 miles before entering the Flathead River just downstream from the town of Hungry Horse. It was amazing what he can do out there…. Numerous Class II, III and IV rapids exist in this gorge. This peaceful and tranquil setting changes when the river reaches Meadow Creek Gorge. The trout are all wild—there is no hatchery grown fish here. The South Fork has good numbers of 8”- 16” cutthroat. Below Meadow Creek Trailhead, the floater who wants to continue down the river to Hungry Horse Reservoir can put in their boat at an unofficial access point called Cedar Flats. 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. 2. 8-Day South Fork Fly-fishing Trip ~ $5900.00 Dispose of all entrails and uneaten portions far away from where you are camped. Horses and mules transport us, our boats and gear 20 to 26 miles (depending upon which trail we take in and the itinerary). To simply reach the interior of the Bob frequently requires hikes or horse packs of several days. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD. The North Fork creates the western boundary line of Glacier National Park and provides some spectacular views inside the Park. Several guide services located around the Bob provide packing services, and can pack in gear for the floaters without a horse. Sprawling more than 1.5 million acres, the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex (known to locals as “the Bob”), which also includes the Great Bear Wilderness and the Scapegoat Wilderness, is perhaps the wildest location in the lower 48 states. From it’s beginning near Danaher Creek, the entire South Fork is floatable except during low water. There is one rapid section below the dam called Devils Elbow, with two short Class IV rapids. 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. Any rafts will need to be brought in either on your back or on horse. Floating the South Fork of the Flathead River is perhaps one of the finest floats anyone can do in the lower 48. Upon reaching the Meadow Creek Pack Bridge, it is a short hike into the wilderness. Leave from Benchmark Trailhead to Youngs Creek and Danaher River confluence for 2 nights. From the take out point, it is a three-mile walk to the Meadow Creek Trailhead. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. 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. So the moral of the story is this: If you cook any fish while camped in the wilderness area, make sure you cook them well away from where you’re camping (like hundreds of yards). Reviews from the South Fork of the Flathead River Trip “The fishing was unbelievable, the river was perfect, the food was great, the hikes were beautiful and the company was the best. And in case you did not hear Scott caught 2 Bulls and Jay caught this monster! The fishing in the South Fork of the Flathead River is, quite simply, excellent above Hungry Horse Reservoir for cutthroat trout, especially the portion of the river that lies in the wilderness area. The east side road (through Martin City) is straighter but gets more traffic. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. Dates: June 27th – July 1st, 2019. Trip Report: Packrafting the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Section: Schafer Meadows to Paola Access Area. T. Trapper Guest. Take a look below. Thread starter Salmo_g; Start date Aug 11, 2018; Prev. 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 South Fork of the Flathead River is one of the few places in the Lower 48 where it is legal to target bull trout. 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. Take a look below. I went in from the Lodgepole TH over Young's Pass and down to Babcock Creek where I put on and started floating. Pretty much any caddis fly or mayfly imitation in size 10-14 works just fine. ... Southfork of the Flathead Trip '14 HD - Duration: ... Part 2- The South Fork Flathead River - Duration: 47:10. They are all intelligent and great young men and went above and beyond to make things interesting fun. Aug 7, 2019 #1 But first the horseback ride. 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. 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. Terrestrial patterns, particularly hoppers, also are excellent to use in July and August. And the pack in is neither quick nor easy—any pack in requires covering at least 25 miles or more of mountainous terrain. However, Montana Fishing Guides are well versed in those areas that are legal to guide on and we plan and execute expertly guided fly fishing trips on many parts of Flathead River. The rest of the hike to Babcock had moderate downfall and wasn't too bad. in Packrafting, Trip Report, Photography, Camping. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. Nighttime temperatures, even during the short summer months, frequently plummet below freezing. 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