Any other suggestions, recommendations or tips would be appreciated. Large streamers are typically in order when … 2 comments for “ Fishing South Fork of Flathead River ” Bill Tilman. I began my exploration of Monture Creek, Danaher Creek, the South Fork of the Flathead River and the Big Salmon Creek/Lake drainages at the Monture trailhead north of Ovando, Montana approximately an hour and a half northeast of Missoula. It is one of the three main forks of the Flathead River, a tributary of the Clark Fork River (the Pend Oreille River). by MS2 » Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:36 am, Post $4,000 - $6,000 per person per day plus trophy fee . Call: 406-644-7889 is the main number. Included: We provide transportation from Kalispell to the river and back to Kalispell at the end of the trip. Catch Cutthroat and Bull Trout on the South Fork of the Flathead River. I suggest getting both the National Geographic Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex map and the Flathead National Forest Three Forks of the Flathead Float Guide. I scrambled down and let my “hopper-dropper” float through the rapid. Reply. The north-northwest trending river is about 98 miles (158 km) long, making it the second longest tributary of the Flathead River. I have also heard that culverts are being dug on the road up to Lodgepole that was causing delays. Available data for this site Click to hide station-specific text (About shift-adjusted ratings). Didn't see another human soul, but some of the deeper pools had hundreds and hundreds of fish. ONE WAY DIY SOUTH FORK FLATHEAD FLOAT DROPS: $1250.00 deposit required to hold your dates, $1350.00 deposit required to hold your dates, Young’s Creek at Confluence of the South Fork of the Flathead River, $1600.00 deposit required to hold your dates, Click  here for – SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD DROP FLOATS Information, Click Here for – Deposit, Cancellation and Refund Policy, Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters • 41088 Roberts Road • Charlo, MT 59824, Connie’s Cell (406) 240-2722 – Mack’s Cell (406) 370-9244. For Trail conditions please go to the link below and click on the Seeley Lake Ranger District link. by MS2 » Fri Jun 10, 2016 6:45 am, Post We're trying to decide if we should start at Pyramid Pass or Lodgepole Creek. A Trip Down the South Fork of the Flathead From the Young's and Danaher Creek Confluence to Meadow Creek Gorge July, 2015 Click on any image for a larger view; Contact garya at this domain if you would like the high quality image for printing . by DaveChenault » Tue Jun 14, 2016 1:42 pm, Post South Fork Flathead Itinerary Day 1 – Pack Up and Ride. We put on Young's at Babcock at 6000 cfs at the gauge and that was perfect for that Creek. This … If you can draw the tag, we can help you find 'em. Parked at Spotted Bear RS, hiked up to Meadow Creek airstrip on the east side trail, camped out there, and floated back to the car the next day. It's a beautiful stretch but at 320 cfs it was a little gravelly and slow at times. Day 2 – Relax. For the drop floats we usually depart from the Owl Creek Trailhead located next to Holland Lake. In addition to the world class cutthroat trout fishing, the South Fork of the Flathead is also one of the few areas in the lower 48 states where you can legally fish for bull trout. Horses and mules transport us, our boats and gear 20 to 26 miles (depending upon which trail we take in and the itinerary). September 14, 2017 at 8:07 am Sounds pretty dangerous with all the fires. Learn More. Included: We provide transportation from Kalispell to the Rich Ranch and back to Kalispell at the end of the trip. If you visit the South Fork of the Flathead, go prepared for the worst. You can call Mack directly at (406) 370-9244 0r Connie at (406) 240-2722 If you are looking for rates for a drop camp, where we pack you in and come back to pack your camp back out, please give us a call. Plan to spend a quiet day, beginning with breakfast at your leisure. We will need to get all your gear except what you will be taking on horseback to the packer by mid afternoon the day before the trip. Fishing was simply excellent. by Aaronsmity » Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:53 am, Post and spend the night. 2. Extended trips into the Bob Marshall are often done on horseback supported by pack string. Hey Ben, thanks for the update. South Fork Flathead River is a river in Hungry Horse, MT in Flathead National Forest, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Rocky Mountains. … Be prepared to portage….but that is one plus of a packraft – easy portages (attach your packraft with the backpack straps up and you can just walk with the … My buddy and I made it to Babcock Creek in a day, but it was truely brutal. Why should I pick Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters for my summer adventure pack trip. $400 per person per day . $400 per person per day. South Fork Flathead Fly-Fishing Trip. The trail was clear of blowdown except for where the Hahn cabin bypass trail is. The South Fork of the Flathead – Bob Marshall Wilderness trip generally begins in Great Falls, the day before the start day. Makes breathing difficult at times I guess. The first floatable stretch on Young’s and the first few miles of the South Fork of the Flathead often have log jams. RATES: General South Fork Flathead trip rates: inquire here or call us at 208-756-3959. It was a steep downhill slide to the pool, but if I had learned anything about backcountry fishing, it was that pools like this are worth fishing. The South Fork Flathead River is a major river in Northwestern Montana in the northwest United States. 65 miles from the origin to Hungry Reservoir and almost all of it flows through remote wilderness. 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 exits the wilderness near Spotted Bear Ranger Station. USGS 12359800 S F Flathead R ab Twin C nr Hungry Horse MT. Especially toward the end of the trip, going into Meadow Creek Gorge. 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. This is a 2 day ride to the South Fork. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. I’m sure it isn’t good. There were five log portages on Young's, only two of which took longer than 3 min. The North Fork Flathead River is truly one of Montana’s wild streams. Day 1 you travel the 15 miles to our camp on Young’s Cr. by Infrastructure » Thu Jun 09, 2016 11:03 pm, Post Option 3, the Confluence/Headwaters of the South Fork of the Flathead is an option during the entire float season, but after August 1, is generally the best option due to lower water conditions. Here a pack string fords the South Fork of the Flathead River … The bull trout in the South Fork of the Flathead River are primarily meat eaters. Day 2 we load up and travel the 7.2 miles to the confluence. Your suggestions are greatly welcomed. North Fork Flathead River – Overview & Introduction. Does anyone know the conditions of the trails this year? After picking up licenses and last minute items that afternoon, we check into our lodging for the night and transfer gear to the horsepacker. Hey! The big jams on the South Fork at Gordon Creek were very easy to portage, there were three river wide jams in a quarter mile that took no more than a couple minutes each to walk around. I'd love to do a trip in over Young's pass but have had the hardest time finding an outfit that will do a vehicle shuttle. Hit me up with a PM and let's put something together. A short section below the Hungry Horse Dam makes up the final stretch before the confluence. It is also very remote. It appears that the the pack teams all take the Hahn cabin trail instead of going down that section of the Youngs creek trail. South Fork Flathead fishing-specific trip: July 18th – 25th, 2020. by JeremyMcLain » Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:49 pm, Post The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. Just found out Four Rivers Shuttle service, out of Missoula runs shuttles around the Bob. The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. Wayne and I floated down Young's Creek and then down the South Fork of the Flathead River to Meadow Creek Gorge. Learn More. Just did a short weekend trip on the S Fork. The trip into the confluence of Gordon Creek and the South Fork is a 26 mile (9 hour) horseback ride and we do it in 1 day. However, the smoke is a different issue. Learn More. Thanks for the tips - I've been trying to reach the ranger but so far unsuccessful. Good call Dave, I edited my post to reflect some of those ideas. From the ford of the White River to the confluence with the South Fork of the Flathead, the face of the Bob Marshall Wilderness changes yet again. Youngs creek has some incredible fishing. RATES: 8-Day Ultimate Fly Fishing Experience ~ $5,900.00. The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the most popular packraft rivers in the lower-48. I just got back from the SF Flathead. A quality tent, rain gear, current map, compass, GPS, first-aid kit, and water filtration system are crucial. by danny » Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:54 am, Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited. Depending on the time of year, anglers could be throwing large foam flies, deer hair caddis flies, or tiny emerging mayflies. I am hoping to do this trip the second week of August and wonder if I should be planning to put in further downriver due to water levels and if so, where would the best place to put in? Hike from Lodgepole Creek to the upper Young's took twice as long as it should have due to hundreds (probably thousands) of downed trees on trail. We hiked in from Lodgepole TR. Hatches on the South Fork of the Flathead River include caddis, mayflies, spruce moths, and many terrestrials including hoppers, ants, and beetles. Greg. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. by DaveChenault » Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:23 am, Post I fished the Spotted Bear and South Fork of the Flathead last year. by backcountrypackrafts » Tue Jun 14, 2016 5:50 pm, Post I suggest taking the Hahn cabin through that section since there is a lot of blow down. by DianaB » Sun Jul 17, 2016 9:04 am, Post It is very scenic. (No logs in the gorge). This was the beginning of a nearly 60-year career packing and outfitting in “The Bob” for outfitters as well as establishing his own outfitting business. PROVISIONAL DATA SUBJECT TO REVISION. Full transparency: I own a packraft rental company, Backcountry Packraft Rentals, so my business benefits greatly from the popularity of this river. Just got off the river on Friday. Once you are in the gorge it is tough to scout, so find the trail at the beginning of the gorge and walk ahead. by dbanks » Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:05 am, Post Kalispell and the Flathead Valley offer all city amenities, as well as quiet trails, backcountry adventures, downhill and cross country skiing, and more, right on your doorstep. The South Fork Acclaimed as one of Montana’s most pristine and remote rivers, the Wild and Scenic South Fork of the Flathead River originates in the south end of the flows northward to Hungry Horse Reservoir. The trail from Pyramid Pass is about 2 miles longer but it gets us up onto Youngs Creek faster. I have a six day solo trip planned from 7/5 thru 7/10 following your exact path. At those flows it is worth a scout. I'll keep trying because I'm keen to float this river! Post Three of us will be hiking into the top on July 15th. by DianaB » Mon Jul 18, 2016 7:51 pm, Post Click here for – SOUTH FORK OF THE FLATHEAD DROP FLOATS Information A Trip Down the South Fork of the Flathead Meadow Creek Gorge July, 2015 Click on any image for a larger view; Contact garya at this domain if you would like the high quality image for printing . It's only half a mile longer. This gin-clear river runs through the Bob Marshall Wilderness for nearly its full length, south to north. Other than the small town of Polebridge, which has no electricity, the North Fork does not pass through a town of any size for it’s entire length. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. South Fork Flathead River Fly Fishing is the best you will find anywhere – period. By the time we hit the rapids before the Mid Creek Takeout the river was at about 3000 cfs and they were easy class ii+ iii- but are worth looking at to find the best line. I would call the Seeley Lake Ranger District and get their take. Wilderness Pack Trips . There is definitely the possibility of the river becoming permitted in the near future, but if pack rafters continue to act as low impact backpackers, there is a chance that the river will continue to be open to anyone who wants to raft it. The South Fork Flathead River is a major river in Northwestern Montana in the northwest United States. I seriously doubt the FS will get that totally cut out any time soon considering they have hundreds of miles of horrible blowdown to deal with from last years storms. Montana Wolf, Bear, Moose and Goat Hunt . South Fork Flathead River from Mapcarta, the free map. A summer camping vacation on horseback. Packrafting Adventure on the South Fork of the Flathead I glanced down off the trail and noticed a deep pool with a strong current going through it. Yoter is right, about 1.5 hours from Columbia Falls to the Spotted Bear on a dusty rod (to me, the road on the east side of Hungry Horse is faster, but not by much, the road on the West side is more curvy and more scenic). by backcountrypackrafts » Sat Jun 11, 2016 6:38 am, Post Wayne and I had gotten into the rhythm of Young's Creek, and had enjoyed fishing our way down it. BenGarr mentioned that there might be a lot of trees down on the trail from Lodgepole. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. After his discharge in 1958, Harry hunted on the South Fork of the Flathead River in what is now the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This South Fork trail was the main route through the early forest reserve south of the Middle Fork. We found some garbage on the river, please do your part to keep the river clean so it doesn't become the next Smith. DATES: July 18th-25th, 2020. I ascended the Monture Creek watershed to Burnt Cabin, then hiked up the East Fork of Monture Creek to Limestone Pass on the first day. These are all the maps you'll need. Sleeping pads and heavily insulated sleeping bags make life easier. Leave from Benchmark Trailhead to Youngs Creek and Danaher River confluence for 2 nights. Stayed in the FS campground (cleanest pit toilets I have ever used - thanks to campground hosts). by Aaronsmity » Mon Jul 18, 2016 1:04 pm, Post September 14, 2017 at 9:47 am Yes, a little scary Billy, but never really in danger. The gorge on Young's was about a mile of class ii+ boulder gardens with two or three class iii- rapids with big holes to avoid. Hey Infrastructure, I'm interested in doing the Young's Creek/SF Flathead this year as well. by JeremyMcLain » Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:52 pm, Post We were told that there was ton of blowdown on the White River Trail so we didn't bother walking up it. 8-Day South Fork Fly-fishing Trip ~ $5900.00 *Price subject to 7% Forest Service User Fees. by backcountrypackrafts » Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:29 pm, Post by JeremyMcLain » Sat Jul 02, 2016 3:05 pm, Post The South Fork of the Flathead, ... We do not have a packer or wrangler fee and do not charge for any animals that the packers or wranglers are riding or any pack animals we need to pack in our gear for staying over night. All meals and snacks, beginning with dinner at the Rich Ranch the night before the trip and ending with lunch on the last day. Moleskin, for … It is located in one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower-48. by BenGarr » Sun Jun 19, 2016 7:21 pm, Post A lack of preparedness can get you lost, injured, or killed. Matches and lighters—or any other fire-building tools—are potentially lifesaving. The Flathead National Forest is over 2.4 million acres of mountains, lakes, forests, wild rivers, and wilderness. Call 406-370-5845 and ask for Tommy. I'm curious if anyone has a report on the status of the lodgepole trail and clearing of that going into upper youngs creek. There is also a phone number for more updated information. Thanks to the MT Pilots Assn the NW corner of the Meadow Creek airstrip has a well-maintained campground with firepits, picnic benches, a bear box, the nicest outhouse I've ever seen, and a nice path down to the river. Are you doing a trip this year, if so what are the dates? Reply. Re: Trip Guide to South Fork of the Flathead, http://www.bmwf.org/trail_conditions.html, https://bedrockandparadox.com/2015/07/0 ... w-guide-2/.