Wilderness River Outfitters and Trail Expeditions Inc is an equal opportunity provider. If you are not interested in that option but still want to walk and wade, you most definitely can bring your fishing stuff! On this trip, we offer a deluxe camping option where a gear boat goes ahead of the other fishing boats to start setting up camp. USGS. South Fork Flathead trips are unique in the sense that you have to pack in your trip on a mule string, and most packing outfitters will not allow carbonated beverages to be packed on the animals. We dedicate our river time on this trip to fishing for one of the purest strains of Westslope Cutthroat trout in the world. 11. We offer brands like Mountain Hardware, North Face, and Sierra Designs. The hotel will provide shuttle service from the airport. Terrestrial patterns, particularly hoppers, also are excellent to use in July and August. Several guide services located around the Bob provide packing services, and can pack in gear for the floaters without a horse. We can provide an empty dry bag to store your sleep kit in. Day Before: Travel to Kalispell, Montana (FCA) no later than 3 pm. What a fabulously memorable trip!!! The best way to access the confluence is from the Owl Creek trailhead in the Swan Valley or the Lodgepole trailhead out of Ovando, Mt. The fishing we will do is primarily inside of our fishing rafts, and you will not need waders. If you are interested for a drop camp trip for hiking and fishing, the cost would be doubled for pickup and return. The South Fork Flathead is one of our most remote trips, which makes the experience extremely unique and rewarding. Something went wrong. The South Fork of the Flathead trip begins and ends in Kalispell, Montana (FCA). While most of our other trips can get to the put-in at the river by vehicle, we must use packing outfitters to break down all of our river and personal gear to be packed in by a mule string. We bring oar boats, paddle boats, and at lower water, inflatable kayaks. However, the Bob is not like most other wilderness complexes, which you can simply hike across in a day or two. 2021 with WRO on the South Fork of the Flathead in MT was the best yet and given that we've rafted with them several times over the past decade or sothat's saying something. We dedicate plenty of river time to fishing for one of the purest strains of Westslope Cutthroat trout in the world. It is about a two hour drive to the Rich Ranch. We will need to have our gear ready that evening or very early the next morning (especially if youve chosen to use horse support). Hikers and horse riders can follow a trail (TR 110) to Big Salmon Lake and its outlet into the South Fork. You are welcome to bring your own sleeping gear if you wish, but if you do, please bring your own complete sleep kit and let us know ahead of time. Your trip leader will put on an orientation around 6 pm at the Rich Ranch. The Middle Fork runs for approximately 92 miles and forms the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. The trail (TR 80) parallels the east bank of the river to Black Bear Creek. Rich Ranch We do not provide any food or drinks for any part of the trip including the ride in. We ride over a mountain pass and through alpine meadows flourishing with wildflowers, before dropping into the headwaters of the South Fork. These guys have it nailed. The guides can help carry and heat up some water if needed. River in Flathead NF, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Rocky Mountains in Hungry Horse, MT. My husband, two daughters ages 12 & 14 and I recently took a week long trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness with the assistance of 406 Wilderness Outfitters. I believe those reports, but today fish average between 8 and 14 inches with an occasional 17- to 20-inch fish. Our sleep kits consist of a Therm-a-rest pad, a 20 degree sleeping bag, a packable pillow, and a ground cloth. See more reasons why were ranked so high on Trip Advisor . 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. Print Map. If our office staff is notified of an emergency they will let our crew know, but it is definitely not immediate as we are typically traveling in remote wilderness areas. If we camp above the gorge and do not raft it, we will arrive at Mid-Creek takeout and there will be a three mile hike to the Meadow Creek trailhead, which takes about an hour. A variety of car rentals are available should you decide to visit Glacier National Park before or after your trip. Please contact our office ahead of time to arrange logistics if you need to be picked up. Access to the South Fork is by foot or horseback. These coolers and containers must be the same size for balancing mule loads. Guests are welcome to camp at the trailhead or stay at the Blackfoot Motel in Ovando. Groups of 4 or more will average 1.5 pack animals per person when using traditional rafts with frames and regular food. This allows us to cover new scenery, rapids, and side adventures each day at a fun, comfortable pace. The fish pound attractor dry flies, not because they are stupid, but because they have to eat when food is available. Seth Tonsmeire is the licensed fishing outfitter in the State of Montana number #40842. 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. There are a total of 97.9 miles of designated Wild River . 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. The reason for that is two fold. You will also catch fewer small fish because the large flies are difficult for small fish to inhale. Some anglers who have fished the South Fork for 30 years complain it isn't as good today as it once was. As this is a pack-in trip, we highly recommend limiting your personal gear to 25-30 pounds, and leaving non-essential items at home. What is an appropriate gratuity for your guides? The South Fork of the Flathead is known in the fly fishing world as the mecca for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. If you visit the South Fork of the Flathead, go prepared for the worst. 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. It's a long haul with more time spent in the saddle or on your feet than on the water. If driving, you will be able to leave your car at the Kalispell airport. This bag should be plenty large enough for everything listed on our suggested packing list. Most of our tents are high-quality three-person tents, but we only put two people in each tent. Comfort is essential to having fun! Day 5-6: Well be rafting the calm and beautiful upper South Fork, floating around lazy corners and casting along undercut banks. Put anything you might need during the day in this day bag, as the larger bag will usually be inaccessible until we reach camp for the evening. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. We've already booked 2022.ALASKA! Float the south fork of the flathead In addition to guided fly fishing, we offer drop float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Lunches are a combination of tasty salads, sandwiches, fruits, and assorted snacks. Absaroka River Adventures, Absarokee Absaroka River Adventures 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. There will be plenty of time to fish at lunch or at camp, but your on-river fishing will be more limited. When fishing for bull trout use short 0X to 2X leaders and sinking-tip lines. If flows are not right for the gorge or clients do not wish to run it, we will camp the final night above the gorge. Great guides -- competent, knowledgeable and just great guys. the average number of stock used for people using traditional rafts and frames along with regular food will average 2 pack animals per person on groups of less than 4. This has important implications. Put anything you might need during the day in this day bag, as the larger bag will usually be inaccessible until we reach camp for the evening. You can usually reduce pack animals by 1 or sometimes2 for the takeout due to eating all of the food and being able to fill the empty coolers with other gear. 0. WRO provides ample snacks as well as plenty of drinking water, fruit juices, and coffee, tea, and cream in the morning. August 12th-17th: Dreamy Late Season on the Middle Fork. It appeared in the June-July 2010 issue of Fly Fisherman. A general river orientation and safety talk will be given, and PFDs (lifejackets) will be custom-fitted before getting on the water and starting the adventure! Is there an option for a trip for only my group? 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. It has both whitewater and flat water sections. Most people credit the river's decline to increased pressure, and they are probably correct. 1 of 2. On one of our trips last summer three people fishing the same hole each caught 20 fish in under an hour! Give a Gift The best patterns for bull trout represent sculpins and cutthroat trout. If horseback riding, you should not wear a backpack, but keep water bottles, rain jacket and packed lunch loose to be placed in saddle bags. But there are few places that are as remote or offer such a unique experience. Come see for yourself why the South Fork of the Flathead is a guide favorite! Also wash off all pans and utensils thoroughly, and leave them away from camp too. See Special License Requirements for application information. How big are the tents? Phone: (406) 677-2317 Wonderful, gourmet backcountry cooking! This day bag is 9 inches in diameter and 20 inches tall. In addition to guided fishing trips, we offer drop & float trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Unlike trout in fertile tailwater and meadow streams, they endure the nuances of high and low flows. Rich Ranch Storms can also roll in unexpectedly, and its best to be prepared for anything. Trail 110 begins approximately two miles from Holland Lake (take TR 415 to TR 42 from the trailhead). As this is a pack-in trip, we highly recommend limiting your personal gear to 25-30 pounds, and leaving non-essential items at home. How will I keep my phone/camera/other valuable items safe from the elements? What does the hike/ trail ride to the put-in entail for the South Fork Flathead? From the take out point, it is a three-mile walk to the Meadow Creek Trailhead. 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