People using pack rafts, dehydrated food and backpacking gear get by with dramatically less. Moleskin, for patching up blistered feet, is definitely recommended. Rain is always possible, but trips earlier in the season are more likely to see precipitation and/or cooler temperatures than mid to late summer trips. In addition to guided fly fishing, we offer drop float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. We've already booked 2022.ALASKA! Most of our tents are high-quality three-person tents, but we only put two people in each tent. Just got off the South Fork of the Flathead with WRO. Dispose of all entrails and uneaten portions far away from where you are camped. Groups of 4 or more will average 1.5 pack animals per person when using traditional rafts with frames and regular food. Most people enjoy wearing water shoes or sturdy sandals with an ankle strap (popular options include Chacos, Tevas, and Keens). Extend your river adventure with three to four days of North Fork Flathead River Rafting. 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). It is recommended to keep your wallet at the bottom of your overnight bag, so it does not get misplaced. It is helpful but not necessary to do some riding prior to your trip. For the Meadow Creek Gorge section, it is intense, exciting whitewater, and depending on the weather, you will probably want to consider having extra layers and splash gear. August 12th-17th: Dreamy Late Season on the Middle Fork. Our max load per pack animal is 150 pounds. Wilderness River Outfitters and Trail Expeditions Inc is an equal opportunity provider. WRO will happily do our best to accommodate any dietary restrictions at no additional cost! Depending on the route in, over the first two days we will cover about 20-25 miles either by foot or by livestock. Let our professional fishing guides show you one of the most remote, trout-filled rivers in Montana on a fishing specific South Fork Flathead trip in the heart of Montanas backcountry. It is also one of the wildest, beginning in the Great Bear Wilderness just south of Glacier National Park. Explore all WRO trips on our interactive map . We will need to have our gear ready either that evening or very early the next morning (especially if youve chosen to use horse support). The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. To reach the trailhead, take FR 477 just north of Seeley Lake. 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. Please contact our office ahead of time to arrange logistics if you need to be picked up. Once in the interior, a person can spend months traversing the 2000 miles of trails that criss-cross this vast wilderness area. I can honestly say, this was the most memorable and seamless of all trips thanks to the unique and family- friendly service the Cheffs provide. Old running sneakers can also work well as river shoes. The South Fork is one of the few places in Montana where anglers can legally target bull trout (char). Guests arrive the day before their scheduled trip, as gear needs to be dropped off at the trailhead by 2:00 p.m. We will weigh and pack your gear for an early start the next morning. We dedicate plenty of river time to fishing for one of the purest strains of Westslope Cutthroat trout in the world. In years of heavy precipitation it may not fall into shape until after the July 4 holiday. The stretch between the Meadow Creek footbridge and the Spotted Bear footbridge is catch-and-release only. We do a lot of DIY rafting trips, so our group had high expectations. The Middle Fork has an average gradient of about 35 feet per mile, which translates to punchy Class III-IV rapids on earlier trips and boulder garden rapids during lower flows. I hope that years down the road, after she's chased rainbows and browns on the big-name streams, she'll take her family to the South Fork where they'll have the chance to fish for wild cutthroats and camp in a phenomenal wilderness. How big are the tents? Montana also has the option to purchase a fishing license just for the time you are on the river. Please contact us if you have any questions. To avoid going through this gorge, any floater must be prepared to pack out their gear (you just cant float out to your car). With the hood down, the vehicle is a prime target for packrats. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 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. Each fishing boat will carry one or two fishermen with a professional fishing guide and a fishing-specific standing frame. Bob Marshall Wilderness, MT 1.406.644.5363. Long sleeved, lightweight sun hoodies, long pants, brimmed hat, eye protection, and possibly sun-gloves are recommended. Guides are usually tipped 10-20% of the cost of the trip, more for exceptional service. There will be plenty of opportunities to try out the superb fishing, and well take some time to wander through the beautiful Ponderosa Parks, for opportunities to possibly see wildlife and soak in the scenery. We can provide an empty dry bag to store your sleep kit in. If you are not interested in that option but still want to walk and wade, you most definitely can bring your fishing stuff! For most trips, sneakers or a lightweight hiking boot will be fine for side hikes. Your trip leader will put on an orientation around 6 pm at the Rich Ranch. The river is loaded with bulls in the early fall when they run upstream from Hungry Horse Reservoir, but anglers can't intentionally fish for them between August 15 and the end of the season. Great guides -- competent, knowledgeable and just great guys. This remote valley, deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness is home to extraordinary wildlife including elk, moose, wolf, eagles, mountain goats, grizzly and black bear. Most people credit the river's decline to increased pressure, and they are probably correct. On the third day of the float, we enter Meadow Creek Gorge and the character of the river changes dramatically. Yes, we almost always have a campfire every evening and morning. If you are interested in a drop trip for camping or backpacking, the cost would be doubled for pickup and return. The guides equally split the total tip amount from each guest. Do we have to share a tent with someone else? Each trip is tailored to the desires of the guests, but generally we will be on the water a total of 5 or so hours each day (give or take a couple of hours), broken by a lunch stop and any other side adventures. From its beginning near Danaher Creek, the entire South Fork is floatable except during low water. This cold, clear water flows into the North, South and Middle forks of the Flathead, which merge together near Columbia Falls to begin a southward journey. We will provide transportation from Kalispell to the Rich Ranch the day before your trip is scheduled to begin. 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. Awesome trip! Subscriber Services. Unfortunately, if you listen to those anglers, you could overlook opportunities that provide lifetime memories. In addition, fall brings spruce moths to the water. USGS. Other than those words of caution, the North Fork Flathead River is a wonderful river to float. Yes, we almost always have a campfire every evening and morning. Oar frames are very heavy to pack in on mule strings, so we try to stick to paddle boats when a fishing frame is not needed. This trip includes a two-day, 25-mile horseback ride (or hike) to access the remote South Fork Flathead. A variety of car rentals are available should you decide to visit Glacier National Park before or after your trip. How will I keep my phone/camera/other valuable items safe from the elements? However, if you want to match the South Fork's hatches, expect to see a smattering of Pale Morning Duns, caddis, and stoneflies. There is one rapid section below the dam called Devils Elbow, with two short Class IV rapids. Some clients choose to walk and some may choose to ride. If there is an odd number in your group we will not make you share a tent with a stranger. The hotel will provide shuttle service from the airport. On the other hand, braving this season has its advantages. While on the river you will get wet going through rapids (what fun would it be if you didnt?!). 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. A safe time frame to fish the river is between July 15 and October 15. Everyone is also issued a large waterproof bag for your personal gear and clothing. 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. I already miss them. Middle Fork Flathead River. 0. Learn more about these fun boats. We ride over a mountain pass and through alpine meadows flourishing with wildflowers, before dropping into the headwaters of the South Fork. They will need to be made out to the guide or to cash. March 29, 2021 By Ben Romans. 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. There is the option to add a fishing boat for an additional fee, fishing boats are booked for two people. The trail is long and having a gentle mountain horse to bring you in, might just be the way you want to start your river adventure. An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Face and body wipes also work well for helping stay clean. After unloading the mules that pack the gear out, we will meet the vehicles and WRO will provide transportation back to Kalispell. You must also possess a bull trout catch card if you intend to fish for them. Please arrive by 10:15 AM for a prompt departure at 10:30 AM. This section of wilderness is absolutely remote, but with WRO I felt completely safe and in good hands. The gorge itself is very beautiful with a trail along the river, so the whitewater is optional. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's Dr. Ross Boucek explains what pharmaceutical and chemical runoff and pollution could mean for Florida's shallow-saltwater gamefish. Most people enjoy wearing water shoes or sturdy sandals with an ankle strap (popular options include Chacos, Tevas, and Keens). In some cases, introductions were illegal, and these include such sites as Coeur d'Alene Lake, Idaho; Keyhole Reservoir, Wyoming; and Beaver Creek Reservoir, Bitterroot River, and Flathead River, Montana (McMahon and Bennett 1996), and lakes in Alaska (Bell, personal communication). A lack of preparedness can get you lost, injured, or killed. The river in this area is dangerous to fish and most anglers begin fishing outside the gorge. They talk about bull trout spawning over the last 50 years in the Great Bear. Others are disappointed by the size of the fish they're catching and blame increased pressure and catch-and-release mortality on the decline. Learn to tie Barr's Damsel with master tier Charlie Craven. If you need assistance, were happy to help and always show you how the gear works. WRO provides ample snacks as well as plenty of drinking water, fruit juices, and coffee, tea, and cream in the morning. Five days and 35 miles means plenty of time to hike, fish the fat and feisty Cutthroat trout at . Travel to Kalispell, Montana (FCA) no later than 3 pm one day prior to your trips launch date. Please check your entries and try again. From there, the South Fork trail more or less follows the river throughout its journey in the wilderness area. Will it be cold? Learn to tie Harrop's Hairwing Dun with master tier Charlie Craven. There are many beautiful places in the US that don't see lots of visitors and are best experienced with guides who know the place and can help you make the most of being somewhere so special. For example a group of 10 going in and they will only be using 2 pack animals for all 10. WRO operates under special use permits on the Salmon-Challis and Flathead National Forests. You won't see masses of insects like on other Western rivers, but there are enough to trigger fish's appetites. Can I stay at a different hotel than your recommended options before the trip? 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