It is very scenic. you dont see til youre almost there you can probably skirt it to the right if But it doesn't make sense to rent a vehicle for 8 days just to have it sit unattended. Blankenship Bridge 15 miles down from Big Creek. I know there are companies that will shuttle your vehicle around for you. Thanks! Start smallmouth bass fishing here. You could make a full day of it in lower water. Im curious if anyone has a report on the status of the lodgepole trail and clearing of that going into upper youngs creek. If you are hoping to delay this river becoming a permit river, I would suggest: Having your fires below the high water mark. There are only a few commercial Outfitting Permits on the river, and we are one of them. Measuring 92 miles (148 km), The Middle Fork Flathead River is located in the western part of the state of Montana in the United States, flowing along the southwestern border of Glacier National Park. The highway veers away from the river at this point if youre headed up Marias Pass towards East Glacier. While bull trout numbers in other fisheries are low where they must compete with non native trout species, they are still healthy and robust in the South Fork. Our blog offers a vast collection of useful articles that include topics related to hatches, seasons, rivers, destination trip reports and more, Helpful checklists to make sure you include the proper clothing and gear for your Montana fishing trip, Information on rates for Montana and Yellowstone National Park fishing licenses. The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Bob Marshall Wilderness Float Trip (7 day). For pricing on lodging packages visit each individual package for rates, inclusions and exclusions. Four Rivers Shuttle, Bonner. We saw a bald eagle perched in a tree and Emily our guide said he'd been sitting there about 3 days! Fishing changes by the week in Montana. Activities Hiking Horse Riding & Camping Planning to spend . It's pristine. Here are a few tips specifically for this trip: Regarding shuttling- after publishing this blog, I found out that there is indeed a shuttle service that there are a couple shuttle services that run vehicles around the Bob. Enjoy lightly fished streams and trophy lakes on one our exclusive ranch leases. Enjoy lightly fished streams and trophy lakes on one our exclusive ranch leases. Flathead River Shuttle 406-890-2600. They were super fun to be around. We are flying into Montana from out of state. The last "gauntlet rapid" at the choke point was the biggest wave/rapid of the whole trip, but all 3 of our paddlers made it through without flipping although one did run into the wall and got lucky. A packraft also makes a great boat for fishing without a shuttle as you can just walk back to your rig. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catch Card must be in possession when fishing for bull trout. The focal point of these unique fisheries are the South Fork of the Flathead River and its tributaries. Purchase online. The hybrid trout threaten the genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout downstream in the South Fork Flathead River drainage. Didnt see another human soul, but some of the deeper pools had hundreds and hundreds of fish. The first and third time we entered the Bob (Bob Marshall Wilderness) via the Ill keep trying because Im keen to float this river! Many of the cutthroat also run out of the massive Hungry Horse Reservoir to the north producing surprisingly sizable fish mostly in the 12-18" range with a few over 20". It is worth the view! It forms in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, one of if not the largest wilderness area in the states. Ultimately, this might reduce the remote feel, lower the fishing quality and likely make it Montanas second permit-only-river. The South Fork drainage is the largest stronghold of these native Char in the Lower 48 states. You can also see a plane wreck just inside View Stream Flow Data . Four Rivers Shuttle 406-370-5845. FAS site. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. Here are our recommendations for rods, lines, flies, tippet, waders and more. Best decision we made was to stay at. Were trying to decide if we should start at Pyramid Pass or Lodgepole Creek. But the truly best fishing around is accessed via a long . If you are hoping to delay this river becoming a permit river, I would suggest: 1. Drive safe and turn around if needed. settlement due to the restrictions on technology in wilderness areas. After the Buffalo bridge, the river is wide, slow and full of smallmouth bass and pike. The rugged area includes the landscapes of Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness areas. Lodge packages include all meals and guided fishing so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a great fly fishing vacation, Enjoy great fishing and keep your costs in check with one of our hotel packages. This is just the start of your day in the wilderness that will include a variety of activities from adventure to relaxation. The rivers, streams and lakes of Yellowstone National Park hold a special place in the hearts of many anglers. Plan for your Montana fishing trip. Combined Trout: 3 daily and in possessionession, none over 12 inches in rivers and streams, no size limit in lakes. Diana, For Trail conditions please go to the link below and click on the Seeley Lake Ranger District link. floating the White River but the water was so low (July 20. Upper South Fork Flathead River drainage, in Upper Youngs Creek. Utilizing the services of an outfitter is a great move. Polson Park The lake enters the river channel. wilderness areas in the lower-48. The rivers, streams and lakes of Yellowstone National Park hold a special place in the hearts of many anglers. Otherwise, lean forward 2. . Not as good as the first time I fished it 5+ years ago, in my pre-packraft days, but still good. The North and Middle forks of the Flathead make up the western and southern borders of Glacier National Park (making them incredibly scenic), are roadside accessible, and are the perfect getaway if you're already in the area and need to satiate that need to work a dry fly along a seam in a river. After that Young's is clear. That flows into Flathead Lake. River Flow is 8860. The robust smells of campfire coffee and fresh mountain air will wake you as you stir from your cot and step out of the tent into a crisp, Montana wilderness morning. Right above Flathead Lake. Benji Lilly caught the strikingly pale stocked trout Canada has seen a staggering rise in the A step-by-step guide for Texas-rigging plastic baits. The first two days of your trip will be spent travelling on horseback to get to the upper reaches of the river. Aug 2-8, June 22-28 Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 14 min to complete. Canada Border A fair number of folks put-in here and run the entire 60 miles down to Blankenship Bridge at the confluence with the main-stem. Its an ideal 2-4 day float trip without any designated camping sites. The Bob Marshall Wilderness in northwest Montana is one of those rare places where people can truly experience the outdoors in its purest form and encounter nature on its own terms. It is also one of the only places you can We floated the last 4 miles of Youngs Creek. July 13-19 The remaining three and a half days of your trip will be enjoyed travelling down river in rafts, enjoying both guided wade and float fishing, great meals on the river, and comfortable backcountry accommodations. We try to keep an up to date list of local shuttles but these are subject to change. Come see for yourself why the South Fork of the Flathead is a legendary wilderness fishing trip! At those flows it is worth a scout. Have a great trip. We pick you up each day at the hotel and in the evenings you can enjoy fun western towns like Bozeman and Livingston, Browse our large network of vacation homes and cabins that are either on the water or centrally located to great fishing. Regarding shuttling- after publishing this blog, I found out that there is indeed a shuttle service that there are a couple shuttle services that run vehicles around the Bob. It is slow moving and eventually you hit signs to stop before the dam area. 65 miles from the origin to Hungry Reservoir and almost all of it flows through remote wilderness. The one rapid listed on the USFS map that recommends scouting was easily manageable at this flow. Give Us A Call. There is one dedicated outfitter in the region that is focused specifically on fishing and they run the best guides in the region. Essex Bridge 5 miles down, the bridge is a nicer launch site than bear creek and is more passable in low flows. We put in on Young's Creek just above where Babcock flows in late on our second day and paddled about a mile till we reached the first portage. I would call the Seeley Lake Ranger District and get their take. Moccasin Creek Another 8 mile run that is great for half or full day runs. We are a Montana based Outfitting business licensed through the Montana Board of Outfitters and permitted through the U.S Forest Service to operate exclusively in and around the 1.5 million acre Bob Marshall Wilderness complex. Anybody else want to join me? The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the Mecca for dry-fly cutthroat fishing. So you can really get away from it all! Lake Lookout and Salmon Lake. Flathead River. 13. Buses and Shuttles in Missoula Beargrass Adventures 406.218.8886 Missoula, MT Nearby Partner Montana Adventure Shuttle, LLC 406.493.2345 Local Business Mountain Line 406.721.3333 1221 Shakespeare Local Business Other Buses and Shuttles in Missoula Beach Transportation http://www.beachtrans.com 825 Mount Avenue 406.549.6121 our trips were bad for mosquitoes and we have only seen one bear (black) in all You can contact Wild Montana Anglers here to book a trip. Bull trout are frequently caught in excess of 20" and specimens up to 30" are possible. Fishing was simply excellent. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: I have done it three times now and have had numerous customers do it and listened to their feedback on different routes. Extended whitefish season and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only. You must log in or register to reply here. The entire main Flathead was clear of log Jams. Included:all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, fly rods and all flies and tackle, all camping equipment, Excluded:airfare, alcohol (guests can bring with them to be packed), arrival/departure lodging (can add at additional cost), transportation to from Kalispell, Montana fishing license, wader rentals, gratuities. Thanks for the tips - Ive been trying to reach the ranger but so far unsuccessful. But, this pristine wilderness is rather . . The trail from Pyramid Pass is about 2 miles longer but it gets us up onto Youngs Creek faster. Build lasting relationships with your best clients or reward your key employees with one of our custom built corporate fishing retreats. Trip Highlights. Flathead River Montana The drainage is one of Americas coolest river systems. Its only half a mile longer. The first and third times I did it via Youngs Creek The trail was clear of blowdown except for where the Hahn cabin bypass trail is. The White River trip was supposed to involve floating the White River but the water was so low (July 20th on a dry year) that we ended up just hiking to the confluence with the Flathead. On a different trip into the Bob we had to turn around and go back because my friend's fishing license had disappeared out of his pack. However, my wife and I are having a baby in November so this summer will likely be the last time I float the whole thing for a while. Once you are in the gorge it is tough to scout, so find the trail at the beginning of the gorge and walk ahead. The fishing is good. doi:10.2172/963010. Rates and terms for some of our standard trips. Fishing-specific boats, frames, Montana fishing guides. Beginning in the Canadian Rockies north of Glacier National Park, the Flathead flows south through northwestern Montana into Flathead Lake. Bull trout: catch-and-release from the third saturday in May through July 31. Extended season for whitefish and catch-and-release for trou open December 1 to third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only. Read about the seasonal patterns in our fisheries. Bear Creek The first road access where you can launch a boat. All camping and fishing equipment is provided. I was a little worried about the 33 mile horseback ride, but it was scenic and fun. paddle). There are companies that will do the shuttle for you. I also had 3 renters get fined $80/person in the Bob because they didnt have life jackets in their boats. June 30-July 6 Enjoy unique accommodations right on the water. Aug 2-8, June 22-28 high water though. Early-mid July is probably best for flows, mid-late July is best for fishing with a lower risk of fires. Wildlife is found in copious abundance in the "Bob" where grizzly bears, black bear, elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mule deer, mountain lion, lynx, wolf and bald eagles all roam and fly in healthy numbers. Legal fishing season for bull trout usually closes on July 31. Closed to angline June 1 through September 30 within a 150-yard radius of the Bear Creek Stream mouth. The FWP biologists have also reported a significant increase in evidence of caught and released fish during their recent South Fork surveys. 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