Numerous Class II, III and IV rapids exist in this gorge. The South Fork is the favorite of the Flatheads. The rest of the hike to Babcock had moderate downfall and wasn't too bad. 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. RATES: General South Fork Flathead trip rates: inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Prior to this modification, all water released came from the bottom of the dam – where the water was coldest. 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. Most travelers to the wilderness complex do not come here to fish. Trip Reports with Photos. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. 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. While the river is deep in spots, the river should pose no challenges to the alert wade fisherman. The South Fork of the Flathead River is Montana’s crown jewel in terms of remote rivers. First, Montana Fish & Game imposed strict special wilderness limits years ago. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD September 24, 2014 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. Sign in to report inappropriate content. Day 2 – Relax. 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! 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You haven't lived until … 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 fishing in this stretch, however, has a chance to become a much better fishery in the years ahead. 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. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. Once in the interior, a person can spend months traversing the 2000 miles of trails that criss-cross this vast wilderness area. You even arranged for good weather. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. Pretty much any caddis fly or mayfly imitation in size 10-14 works just fine. Flow: 4,300 – 3,400 cfs @ MF Flathead West Glacier Gauge. Just be careful not to spook the fish—the waters of the South Fork of the Flathead River are crystal clear. Colby…. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD We just received a great report from our clients on their South Fork of the Flathead adventure. 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. And cooking fish, especially over an open fire, produces a powerful aroma—an aroma that grizzly bears just love. I went in from the Lodgepole TH over Young's Pass and down to Babcock Creek where I put on and started floating. To reach this section of the river, though, requires going down a rather steep and hazardous put-in at the dam. And in case you did not hear Scott caught 2 Bulls and Jay caught this monster! Other than the Meadow Creek Gorge area, a wade fisherman can access virtually any segment of this river, spending weeks if not months exploring every pool, run and riffle. Grizzly bears, moose, elk and wolves all call the Bob home. “My hopes for the trip were (if you recall) in order of importance A Great Time with my Boys Great scenery away from the … Also wash off all pans and utensils thoroughly, and leave them away from camp too. Terrestrial patterns, particularly hoppers, also are excellent to use in July and August. 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. For running powerful Class IV and V rapids, nothing beats an inflatable whitewater kayak. Aug 7, 2019 #1 But first the horseback ride. Trip Report South Fork Flathead River, Bob Marshall Wilderness. The natural elements in the Bob should not be taken lightly. 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. 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. Take a look below. 8-Day South Fork Fly-fishing Trip ~ $5900.00 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. The trout are all wild—there is no hatchery grown fish here. What I did not count on were the great people…Brooklyn got us started great and was a pleasure…. The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. Below the dam, the river only runs for 5 miles. 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 … 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. South Fork Flathead River. From the take out point, it is a three-mile walk to the Meadow Creek Trailhead. Below the dam, the South Fork flows for 5 miles before entering the Flathead River just downstream from the town of Hungry Horse. July 15, 2019. by John Nestler. Length: 38 miles. The South Fork of the Flathead River is home to native Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. From it’s beginning near Danaher Creek, the entire South Fork is floatable except during low water. 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. The Flathead River System offers hundreds of miles of pristine waterways, while Flathead Lake is a scenic and recreational mecca. The headwaters of the North Fork of the Flathead originate in Canada and flow south into the United States. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a truly remote stream. This has important implications. The North Fork creates the western boundary line of Glacier National Park and provides some spectacular views inside the Park. View detailed fishing guide books & river maps for Montana. The second, and somewhat obvious, reason is that in order to reach the river in the wilderness area requires considerable time and energy, as it lies in a very remote setting by any standard. and a good fishing guide as well. Thread starter Salmo_g; Start date Aug 11, 2018; Prev. “My hopes for the trip were (if you recall) in order of importance. Access to the wilderness complex is excellent, with dozens of trails threading their way from easily accessible trailheads along the perimeter of the wilderness. Access to the South Fork is by foot or horseback. 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. Vast wilderness area Flathead fishing-specific trip: July 18th – 25th, 2020 is likely to bump into countless of... Requires covering at least 25 miles or more of mountainous terrain the idea of hauling a raft deep the... 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