Just got off the Flathead and thought I would give a quick conditions report for everyone. The South Fork only flows for 5 miles below Hungry Horse Dam before the river ends at the confluence of the Flathead River. T. Trapper Guest. They are all intelligent and great young men and went above and beyond to make things interesting fun. 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. The river provides outstanding fishing for native Montana trout in a remote and beautiful setting. South Fork Flathead DATES: For information on scheduling a South Fork Flathead trip in 2020, inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. Horses and mules transport us, our boats and gear 20 to 26 miles (depending upon which trail we take in and the itinerary). Section: Schafer Meadows to Paola Access Area. We just received a great report from our clients on their South Fork of the Flathead adventure. 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. Home › Forums › Campfire › Post-Trip Reports › South Fork of the Flathead, Bob Marshall Wilderness. 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. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. The South Fork of the Flathead River is home to native Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. The river is a dry-fly mecca, and it’s one of the few places in America where you can legally target bull trout. “My hopes for the trip were (if you recall) in order of importance A Great Time with my Boys Great scenery away from the … There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. From the take out point, it is a three-mile walk to the Meadow Creek Trailhead. Leave from Benchmark Trailhead to Youngs Creek and Danaher River confluence for 2 nights. Aug 7, 2019 #1 But first the horseback ride. 2. South Fork Flathead Itinerary Day 1 – Pack Up and Ride. Any rafts will need to be brought in either on your back or on horse. This should lead to significantly better fishing in both the South Fork below the dam and for the Flathead River in the years ahead. Also wash off all pans and utensils thoroughly, and leave them away from camp too. IT WAS PERFECT!!!! in Packrafting, Trip Report, Photography, Camping. and then I can not say enough about Shaun, Pat, Colby, and Coleman. The South Fork is the favorite of the Flatheads. 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. CLIENT REPORT | SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD We just received a great report from our clients on their South Fork of the Flathead adventure. Summer also registers a fair amount of backpacking and horse packing visitors, although a person is unlikely to see more than a couple parties of people once away form the popular day hiking trails on the edge of the wilderness area. ... Southfork of the Flathead Trip '14 HD - Duration: ... Part 2- The South Fork Flathead River - Duration: 47:10. patient, enthusiastic, and he put us on fish. For running powerful Class IV and V rapids, nothing beats an inflatable whitewater kayak. The trail had been cleared to the Jenny Creek / Young's confluence and was in good shape. Trip Reports. Access to the South Fork is by foot or horseback. This gin-clear river runs through the Bob Marshall Wilderness for nearly its full length, south to north. Floating the South Fork of the Flathead River is perhaps one of the finest floats anyone can do in the lower 48. To simply reach the interior of the Bob frequently requires hikes or horse packs of several days. 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. 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. 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. 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. This is in addition to the local wildlife that can make any trip an interesting and memorable experience. 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. 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. 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. It is very scenic. 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. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. This is about 2 miles south of the Trailhead, and requires a short walk to the river. From this point, you can float another 18 scenic miles to Hungry Horse Reservoir. What I did not count on were the great people…Brooklyn got us started great and was a pleasure…. The Bob is not a National Park, where a traveler is likely to bump into countless hordes of people wandering its trails. Just be careful not to spook the fish—the waters of the South Fork of the Flathead River are crystal clear. Take a look below. Below the dam, the river only runs for 5 miles. It has plenty of good size cutthroat and rainbow trout along with some grayling and some fully protected bull trout. The road also has a reputation of being hard on tires, so make sure you have a good full size spare or two. 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. The east side road (through Martin City) is straighter but gets more traffic. Access to the wilderness complex is excellent, with dozens of trails threading their way from easily accessible trailheads along the perimeter of the wilderness. Thread starter Salmo_g; Start date Aug 11, 2018; Prev. The fishing in this stretch, however, has a chance to become a much better fishery in the years ahead. Prior to this modification, all water released came from the bottom of the dam – where the water was coldest. Streams. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a truly remote stream. 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. 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. I will not hesitate recommending you guys to friends. The South Fork of the Flathead River is Montana’s crown jewel in terms of remote rivers. Thread starter myt1; Start date Aug 7, 2019; myt1 Well-known member. It was amazing what he can do out there…. and a good fishing guide as well. “My hopes for the trip were (if you recall) in order of importance. While the river is deep in spots, the river should pose no challenges to the alert wade fisherman. 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. 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. 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. Trip Report: South Fork of the Flathead, Montana. Below the dam, the South Fork flows for 5 miles before entering the Flathead River just downstream from the town of Hungry Horse. Learn more about these fun boats. × Announcement: Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the state of Montana has declared that mask or face covering use is required for ages five and older. Take a look below. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. Grizzly bears, moose, elk and wolves all call the Bob home. 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. 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. The bull trout is a threatened species and can reach 40 inches long. The best place to exit the river is at mile 61.6, which is marked by a small sign. Packed with fly fishing focused content on the world’s finest fly fishing lodges, outfitters and destinations. Always clean and dry all your gear after each trip. South Fork Flathead River. Coleman…well I actually took pictures of the meals…and I don’t do that shit. The North Fork creates the western boundary line of Glacier National Park and provides some spectacular views inside the Park. 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. Camped out along the South Fork Flathead River. 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. 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! From it’s beginning near Danaher Creek, the entire South Fork is floatable except during low water. And cooking fish, especially over an open fire, produces a powerful aroma—an aroma that grizzly bears just love. 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