south fork flathead river floatsouth fork flathead river float

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. When fishing for cutthroats try all the famous attractor dry flies like Black Humpies, Royal Wulffs, Renegades, and Trudes, as well as Elk-hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, Goddard Caddis, Caddis Variants, flying ants, and foam beetles. Backpack or let the horses carry your gear and wear only a light daypack. 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 Evacuation plans are in place for each trip in case of an emergency, and a satellite communication device is carried at all times. It depends on the time of year, and on the child. 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. What size and type of sleeping pad does WRO provide? Just when your feet are getting a bit heavy, we reach the cool, clear waters of the South Fork. 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. Put anything you might need during the day in this day bag, as the larger bag will usually be inaccessible until we reach camp for the evening. Prior to this modification, all water released came from the bottom of the dam where the water was coldest. 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. A safe time frame to fish the river is between July 15 and October 15. Day Before: Travel to Kalispell, Montana (FCA) no later than 3 pm. Numerous Class II, III and IV rapids exist in this gorge. Immerse yourself in the spectacular beauty and pristine watersheds of Glacier National Park and the Middle Fork of the Flathead River with an experienced guide. The South Fork of the Flathead is a freestone stream, vulnerable to the nuances of runoff, and typically unfishable until mid to late June. If you're using a floating line, tie on a 12- to 14-foot leader and apply plenty of weight. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. Please arrive by 10:15 AM for a prompt departure at 10:30 AM. From its beginning near Danaher Creek, the entire South Fork is floatable except during low water. You will need to arrange lodging and dinner reservations for the night before your launch date at the Rich Ranch. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Please do not make tip checks out to Wilderness River Outfitters. This trip includes a two-day, 25-mile horseback ride (or hike) to access the remote South Fork Flathead. We often have dinner together, and you will spend this first night at the Rich Ranch lodging. What does the hike/ trail ride to the put-in entail for the South Fork Flathead? Synthetic materials are lightweight and dry much quicker than cotton. Depending on the route in, over the first two days we will cover about 20-25 miles either by foot or by livestock. Site name This is the official name of the site in the database. Hungry Horse Dam was modified in the mid 1990s to allow it to draw water from any depth of the reservoir. Day 2: Finish off the hike or horseback ride to the river put in where we will meet the rafts and the guides. Mid summer sunny days can also reach the upper 90s! Fall is also the time aspens, tamaracks, and cottonwoods turn yellow and elk bugle from the surrounding slopes. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the Mecca for dry-fly cutthroat fishing. The Middle Fork Flathead River is one of Montana's premier whitewater rivers. You are welcome to stay wherever youd like as long as you are at 1) orientation the evening before your trip and 2) your trips designated pickup location ready for departure the morning your trip begins. They will not pamper you but will instead tease out your best self to feel as if you belong in the wilderness. Paiute (Moyle 1976a), Yellowstone (Dill and Cordone . Each fishing boat will carry one or two fishermen with a professional fishing guide and a fishing-specific standing frame. As this is a pack-in trip, we highly recommend limiting your personal gear to 25-30 pounds, and leaving non-essential items at home. South Fork Flathead River. North Fork Flathead River, Montana, USA 9. If driving, you will be able to leave your car at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. Can WRO accommodate dietary restrictions/ allergies? We will make lunch for the trail, and after a short drive to the trailhead in the morning we will be on our way. We do not provide soda or alcohol, except for one night which is a fiesta night in which we provide drinks. East of Hungry Horse Reservoir and South Fork Flathead River lies the drainage basin of the Middle Fork River. The nose-diving U.S. economy has persuaded many families in recent years to put costly and exotic vacation plans on hold . June 30- July 5th: Spend Fourth of July with WRO! If I did not book the fishing-specific trip, can I still fish? What kind of footwear should I bring? 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. Big and plenty, these native fish average 12-20 inches. Comfort is essential to having fun! While most of our other trips can get to the put-in at the river by vehicle, we must use packing outfitters to break down all of our river and personal gear to be packed in by a mule string. The Flathead River itself is over 200 miles long from its northernmost point to where it meets the Clark Fork River northwest of Missoula. Great guides -- competent, knowledgeable and just great guys. Guests are welcome to camp at the trailhead or stay at the Blackfoot Motel in Ovando. (What you will eventually pack into your river day bag. Each day will be different, with varying options for hiking, exploring, swimming, fishing, and great lunch stops. River is the largest tributary to the upper South Fork. On our adventure South Fork trips, we use a mix of paddle rafts and inflatable kayaks; some people can try different boat options. Those willing to venture away from the beaten path will find refuge from people, especially in late June and early July when high water recedes and again during fall as visiting anglers head home. However, if you want to match the South Fork's hatches, expect to see a smattering of Pale Morning Duns, caddis, and stoneflies. 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. Any fish you catch while in the wilderness area will have to be eaten there. This is dependent on the area you are fishing, but for all rivers you will need single, barbless hooks without bait. Lower Youngs Creek also has some good fishing. The South Fork of the Flathead is by all accounts one of the world's premier rivers. After unloading the mules that pack the gear out, we will meet the vehicles and WRO will provide transportation back to Kalispell. A drop float trip is a one-way ticket and you will need to arrange transportation on the other end. See more reasons why were ranked so high on Trip Advisor . Wilderness River Outfitters and Trail Expeditions Inc is an equal opportunity provider. How, where, and when do we get our fishing licenses? A third access begins on the North Fork of the Blackfoot drainage on the southern end of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It's a long journey to get there. The result is that anglers now sometimes struggle to catch fish that are small enough to keep. South Fork bull trout weigh up to 15 pounds or more and smack streamers, as well as the occasional cutthroat dancing on the end of an angler's line. We offer fishing-specific trips that reserve a fishing boat and frame and a professional fishing guide. Everyone is issued a waterproof day bag to carry items you will need access to during the day while on the river. Copyright 2023 Wilderness River Outfitters. Print Map. What a fabulously memorable trip!!! If it is a non-fishing adventure style trip, we will be paddling the entire trip. Most people credit the river's decline to increased pressure, and they are probably correct. If you fish after mid-October, carry appropriate winter clothing and survival gear. This is in addition to the local wildlife that can make any trip an interesting and memorable experience. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. Applications are free from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Kalispell or online. Examples in Kalispell include Sportsman's Warehouse, REI, or Cabellas. 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). Everyone is also issued a large waterproof bag for your personal gear and clothing. This should lead to significantly better fishing in both the South Fork below the dam and for the Flathead River in the years ahead. This day bag is 9 inches in diameter and 20 inches tall. 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. All of our trip leaders are certified Wilderness First Responders, along with the majority of our other highly capable guides, several of whom are Wilderness EMTs. This bag should be plenty large enough for everything listed on our suggested packing list. 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. During July, the South Fork is one of the only rivers in America where you can target bull trout. It is also nice to have camp shoes to change into. Follow the West Side Road to the trailhead, approximately six miles from Hungry Horse Reservoir's southern shore. 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. The South Fork is marginal habitata stream that flows through mostly sterile, granite corridors. The fishing in this stretch, however, has a chance to become a much better fishery in the years ahead. The South Fork is one of the few places in Montana where anglers can legally target bull trout (char). Jim Klug photo. If we camp above the gorge and do not raft it, we will arrive at Mid-Creek takeout and there will be a three mile hike to the Meadow Creek trailhead, which takes about an hour. It is helpful but not necessary to do some riding prior to your trip. They will need to be made out to the guide or to cash. 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. We are currently working with Seth to go on a trip to the South Fork of the Flathead at the end of July. These are very comfortable and fit very nicely in our gear bags.

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