Just got off the South Fork of the Flathead with WRO. If we run the gorge, the final day we will have lunch on the river and take-out by mid-day at Spotted Bear Bridge. 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. Carry bear spray and store food in airtight containers hung from trees away from camp. 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. All photos (174) Half Day Scenic Float on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River By Glacier Raft Company 311 reviews Recommended by 99% of travelers from $94.88 per adult Check availability Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay laterFree cancellation Ages 2-99, max of 45 per group Duration: 2h 30m Start time: Check availability Mobile ticket The South Fork Flathead is one of the most beautiful and productive trout streams in North America. If there is an odd number in your group we will not make you share a tent with a stranger. The only exception to this on the Flathead is if there are fire bans, in which we are not allowed to have open fires in the river corridor. Bob Marshall Wilderness, MT 1.406.644.5363. Synthetic materials are lightweight and dry much quicker than cotton. You should arrive in Kalispell the day before your trip is scheduled to begin by 3 pm. From there, the South Fork trail more or less follows the river throughout its journey in the wilderness area. Note: If your party is fishing for bull trout, you will need to secure that license and catch card from FWP. We provide deluxe, self-inflating basecamp Therm-a-rest pads. What will temperatures and weather be like? If driving, you will be able to leave your car at the Kalispell airport. If staying in Kalispell the night your trip takes off, we recommend making your reservations at the Red Lion Hotel (1-800-547-8010) or Travelodge (1-406-755-6123) in Kalispell. You place worth on the experience in its entiretyfrom blistered feet on the hikes in and out of the wilderness, to passing a flask around the campfire, to the daily duties of filtering water and cleaning the camp dishes. Yellowstone, Lahantan and perhaps other subspecies have been stocked in Arizona (Minckley 1973). It is also one of the wildest, beginning in the Great Bear Wilderness just south of Glacier National Park. River in Flathead NF, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Rocky Mountains in Hungry Horse, MT. The South Fork is a place I'll take my daughter, Tate, to learn the ropes. How will I keep my phone/camera/other valuable items safe from the elements? The trout in this river are eager to please, and on a good day, anglers with nothing more than a #12 Royal Wulff may raise 30 or more fish and bring at least half to the net. 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. 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. 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. Available in both print and digital. We are located under the giant log arch on the south side of US Highway 2, 1/2 mile west of West Glacier. Email: [emailprotected] (1-406-755-6123) in Kalispell. The best place to exit the river is at mile 61.6, which is marked by a small sign. 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. Yes, we do normally change campsites every day. Your trip leader will put on an orientation at 6 pm at the Rich Ranch, where trip details, last minute questions, and dry bag demonstrations will be given. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions or allergies as early as possible so that we can adjust the menu accordingly. They say anglers used to catch nearly 30 cutthroats a day between 15 and 20 inches. A safe time frame to fish the river is between July 15 and October 15. 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. We will make lunch for the trail, and after a short drive to the trailhead in the morning we will be on our way. For example a group of 10 going in and they will only be using 2 pack animals for all 10. How will I keep my phone/camera/other valuable items safe from the elements? Storms can also roll in unexpectedly, and its best to be prepared for anything. It's a long journey to get there. WRO operates under National Park Service contract in Glacier Bay. Since the fishing pressure is low, the trout arent horribly picky about what they will take. On the other hand, if you are an experienced fisherman, they will put you in the right spot and let you do your thing! Wonderful, gourmet backcountry cooking! Follow the West Side Road to the trailhead, approximately six miles from Hungry Horse Reservoir's southern shore. Join us for eight wonderful days of luxury camping and dry fly-fishing in the incredible Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana! To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 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. 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 drop float trip prices are one-way. Hungry Horse Dam was modified in the mid 1990s to allow it to draw water from any depth of the reservoir. 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. If you need assistance, were happy to help and always show you how the gear works. Only 3 fish of any type (cutthroats, rainbows and grayling all are found in the South Fork) may be taken, none of which may be over 12 inches. Subscriber Services. Learn to tie the RS2 with master tier Charlie Craven. From the Rich Ranch, well get an early start for our drive to the Pyramid or Holland Lake trailhead. It will be hard to measure up to WRO in any capacity. Storms can also roll in unexpectedly, and its best to be prepared for anything. We are consistently told by guests that we out-do their expectations when it comes to our foods quality that we can accomplish in the wilderness. Most of our tents are high-quality three-person tents, but we only put two people in each tent. Hopefully, the catch and release restrictions wont bother you since you catch and release all fish anyway! Most people enjoy wearing water shoes or sturdy sandals with an ankle strap (popular options include Chacos, Tevas, and Keens). Hopper patterns, chubby trinobles, purple haze, parachute adams, humpies, ants, beetles, and general terrestrial patterns are popular flies in this region. Learn to tie the versatile Hare's Ear with master tier Charlie Craven. We do not provide soda or alcohol, except for one night which is a fiesta night in which we provide drinks. Montana also has the option to purchase a fishing license just for the time you are on the river. Big and plenty, these native fish average 12-20 inches, and have gotten up to 40 inches. Overnight bags and sleep kits will be available on the trail the first night. From the take out point, it is a three-mile walk to the Meadow Creek Trailhead. Applications are free from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Kalispell or online. WRO will happily do our best to accommodate any dietary restrictions at no additional cost! 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. By law, all bull trout must be immediately released. Five days and 35 miles means plenty of time to hike, fish the fat and feisty Cutthroat trout at . Do we have to share a tent with someone else? South Fork of the Flathead Explore the Heart of Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness Overview Hike past pristine mountain lakes and snow-covered peaks. They talk about bull trout spawning over the last 50 years in the Great Bear. That's what I've learned during my forays to northwest Montana's South Fork of the Flathead Rivera wild cutthroat fishery that flows through the largest chunk of designated wilderness in the Lower 48. The South Fork of the Flathead River is Montanas crown jewel in terms of remote rivers. We provide deluxe, self-inflating basecamp Therm-a-rest pads. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a major river in Northwestern Montana. The South Fork of the Flathead trip begins and ends in Kalispell, Montana (FCA). Our sleep kits consist of a Therm-a-rest pad, a 20 degree sleeping bag, a packable pillow, and a ground cloth. Please try to pack coolers and containers that are the same size for balancing mule loads. Most of the heavy-duty whitewater lies in the wilderness section, where the Middle Fork has a "wilderness" designation (no motors). Backpack or let the horses carry your gear and wear only a light daypack. If driving, you will be able to leave your car at the Kalispell airport. The fishing is frosting on an already tasty cake. Please check your entries and try again. My husband, two daughters ages 12 & 14 and I recently took a week long trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness with the assistance of 406 Wilderness Outfitters. What will I do with items I need accessible during the day or on the boat? Designated Wilderness Areas are protected to remain wild and free. Fill your gas tank before leaving the town of Hungry Horse. Long sleeved, lightweight sun hoodies, long pants, brimmed hat, eye protection, and possibly sun-gloves are recommended. 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). Also wash off all pans and utensils thoroughly, and leave them away from camp too. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. As the river flows through this gorge, the river becomes extremely narrow with big drops and sharp turns. Print Map. Mid summer sunny days can also reach the upper 90s! After meeting your trip leader and the other guests, we will drive as a group from Kalispell to the Rich Ranch, which is about a two hour drive. What kind of footwear should I bring? We have other wilderness and backcountry trips too, so call soon to reserve your dates on these pristine and permit only wilderness waters. Is there a place to store our non-river luggage while were on the river? Old running sneakers can also work well as river shoes. East of Hungry Horse Reservoir and South Fork Flathead River lies the drainage basin of the Middle Fork River. We do a lot of DIY rafting trips, so our group had high expectations. This bag should be plenty large enough for everything listed on our suggested packing list. You are welcome to bring your own sleeping gear if you wish, but if you do, please bring your own complete sleep kit and let us know ahead of time. This allows us to cover new scenery, rapids, and side adventures each day at a fun, comfortable pace. The result is that anglers now sometimes struggle to catch fish that are small enough to keep. The drop float service is a one way service. Rich Ranch The stretch between the Meadow Creek footbridge and the Spotted Bear footbridge is catch-and-release only. We have experience working with vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut allergies, etc. WRO provides ample snacks as well as plenty of drinking water, fruit juices, and coffee, tea, and cream in the morning. However, the Bob is not like most other wilderness complexes, which you can simply hike across in a day or two. In addition, fall brings spruce moths to the water. From the Rich Ranch, well get an early start for our drive to the Pyramid or Holland Lake trailhead. During September, October, and even November, South Fork cutthroats eat everything that floats over their snouts as they gear up for a long winter. 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