The fisheries in the Bob Marshall are just as pristine and prolific as they were in the days of the Lewis and Clark expedition and provide an unequaled opportunity to target the native west slope cutthroat trout and the bull trout. Enjoy lightly fished streams and trophy lakes on one our exclusive ranch leases. They also partner with Larys Fly Shop in Columbia Falls and you can drop-in the shop for current reports and trips. 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. Flathead River Montana The drainage is one of Americas coolest river systems. The ranger wouldnt budge, or call in to verify his license. But it doesn't make sense to rent a vehicle for 8 days just to have it sit unattended. Not sure where one of the other reports came up with just 1 portage? It can only be accessed by foot or horseback. To reach the trailhead, turn onto Holland Lake Road from Highway 83 and follow the signs. We are flying into Montana from out of state. Whittaker Bridge and downstream (406) 381.1265. There are a ton of rookie guides in this area however. . Drive safe and turn around if needed. Thanks for the tips - Ive been trying to reach the ranger but so far unsuccessful. The rapids towards the end of the float (before Meadow Creek Gorge) definitely have some powerful hydraulics but nothing exceptionally technical. Early-mid July is probably best for flows, mid-late July is best for fishing with a lower risk of fires. It was earlier than our usual stopping time, but it was a dynamite camp so we stopped. From one report, a group of 4 experienced packrafters entered the gorge and 2 went swimming on the first rapid- one broke a paddle and had to manage with half a shaft- so take extra paddles if you're going to run it. It was really shallow and we had to portage around and over a few logs. It flows out of deep wilderness and feeds the largest lake west of the Mississippi. There is also a phone number for more updated information. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Bob Marshall Wilderness Float Trip (7 day). Fishing-specific boats, frames, Montana fishing guides. 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. Trail in over Lodge Pole (Young's Pass) was relatively clear. But, this pristine wilderness is rather . Drivers take extra steps to keep your rigs & trailers safe, Located on the North Fork of the Blackfoot River, Fishing Access, Boat Launch, and Campground, Fishing Access & Boat Launch with Shaded Parking. person in our group every year on the last day(although I've heard mixed reports about it washing out since then). Rome2rio makes travelling from Kalispell Airport (FCA) to Bigfork easy. Kalispell Airport Shuttles. With over 30 years ofexperiencein the Bob, we will take you into the pristine backcountry for a memorable Bob Marshall Wildernessexperience that will inspire you for life. n/a. Now Taking 2023 Bookings!! We try to keep an up to date list of local shuttles but these are subject to change. You will hike out 3 miles from the take-out to the The gorge section of Youngs Creek can be a bit Its much broader and slower here. The next two year report will come out later this year, Rosenthal notes. July 13-19 Shore Thing Shuttle Shorethingshuttle.com. Our Bob Marshall trips are operated in partnership with long time packer and permit holder Rich McAtee. We will ride through lush green mountain valleys, across cold clear streams and over majestic passes. Many avid anglers, however, enjoy bringing their own gear. I've seen one Black bear and have had a handful of customers report black bear sightings on the river. Let us answer all of your questions and help you choose exceptional lodges in Chile, Argentina, Alaska and the Bahamas. Nice for a quick float from Teakettle. Its a June-July game in most years. 2 rapids the last day flipped people. June 30-July 6 Choose from Montana's most comprehensive selection of fly fishing trips. For well information this can be a district-assigned local number. Read about average temperatures and weather patterns month by month. The focal point of these unique fisheries are the South Fork of the Flathead River and its tributaries. Experience some of the lower 48's most remote fisheries. 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 & permit, gratuities. The Wild Mile River Retreat 4.6 Superb. Information related to travelling to Montana: which airports to fly into, major towns, etc. 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. overwhelming if youve never packrafted before. It is also one of the only places you can According to 2016 regulations it is open the 3rd Saturday in May through July for Bull Trout catch and release. We try to keep an up to date list of local shuttles but these are subject to change. Not cutting other boats off or paddling through fishing holes that people are fishing, Fishing more for bull trout, because you wont catch as many cut-throats and the ones you catch will be bigger, Pulling your fish in quickly and taking the hook out in the water. Start smallmouth bass fishing here. Fishing was surprisingly good even with the higher water levels. July 21-27 It forms the western border for Glacier National Park and is incredibly beautiful. To access the road section above the reservoir, you still have several hours of dirt road just to get there. 406-645-2926. Otherwise, lean forward | The trail from Pyramid Pass is about 2 miles longer but it gets us up onto Youngs Creek faster. 406-407-1602. Give us a call or text your information to our mobile line, please leave us your name and a contact number to get all the details. isnt a bone crusher, but you might lose your sunglasses and anything else that It forms in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, one of if not the largest wilderness area in the states. Aug 2022. Start your trip booking online or call 1.406.644.5363 for further details about a drop float trip in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. To reserve your trip email Bobmarshallwilderness12@gmail.com or Call Trent Osburn (406)321-0984 We are Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters specializing in summer and early fall traditional horseback family vacations. Montana Angler guides fish the famous Livingston creeks in addition to several other spring creeks on some of our exclusive ranch leases. People stranded at the takeout, cars delivered days late, cars damaged, stolen, and abandoned in strange places. Glacier Raft Company is one I found. possible because it gets hot on the south side of the pass and there isnt Deerborn River. Montana Angler holds a federal permit to guide our guests on these legendary waters, Fish over 20 legendary Montana rivers across multiple valleys or get off the beaten path on our exclusive private access ranch leases. I also had 3 renters get fined $80/person in the Bob because they didnt have life jackets in their boats. 2.2.1 Proposed Transportation Method2-3 2.2.2 Proposed Treatment Method 2-3 2.3 Alternative A: No Action or Status Quo Management2-3 2.4 Alternative B: (Proposed Action) Fish Toxins-Combined Delivery and . East of Hungry Horse Reservoir and South Fork Flathead River lies the drainage basin of the Middle Fork River. Read about the seasonal patterns in our fisheries. 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. 406-370-5845. This cold, clear water flows into the North, South and Middle forks of the Flathead, which merge together near Columbia Falls to begin a . The South Fork of the Flathead River is a different beast. 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. The rivers, streams and lakes of Yellowstone National Park hold a special place in the hearts of many anglers. Hey! Site name This is the official name of the site in the database. A link to purchase your Montana license online is also provided, Frequently asked questions related to fly fishing in Montana and about our fishing trips and packages, Montana Angler is a family run business that prides itself on working with the best guides and lodging options in Montana, Read what our guests have to say about our trips and learn why we are rated #1 in Trip Advisor and have a 5 star average on our Orvis reviews. Shuttles on Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Rock Creek and lower Bitterroot cell: 406-370-5845 Upper River . RAFTING. Minutes to Flathead Lake & short drive to Glacier, Whitefish, Kalispell 4.7 Superb. It flows out of deep wilderness and feeds the largest lake west of the Mississippi. Bob Marshall pack trips operated by Flathead NF permit holder Rich McAtee, MT Outfitter #33514. Middle Fork Flathead River. 14. 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? Feel the exhilaration of puckering whitewater rushing through a narrow gorge. Let us help you build the perfect lodging and fishing package. (406) 321-0984 Thank you Montana Angler and Rich for the awesome trip!" Just did a short weekend trip on the S Fork. This summary might be more than you want to know, but hopefully it will be informative if you are actually planning on doing the trip. 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 Ive ever seen, and a nice path down to the river. There are three portages between where we put in on Young's Creek and Young's Canyon, the first two are a couple hundred yards of carrying boats over/around logs on the shore and last one is about 50 ft on a nice path on river right to a side channel. Choose from over 20 fabled blue ribbon rivers that we target. On July 18-21, 2019, two of us backpacked from Lodgepole TH into Youngs Creek, then packrafted the South Fork of the Flathead River. Flathead River System Shuttle Bugs - 406.407.1602 Blackfoot River Four River Shuttle - 406.370.5845 Ovando Mercantile - 406.793.5555 Blackfoot River Rentals - 406.244.0404 or 406.293.7707 We were two families, with 2 vehicles, so we did our own shuttle. In Flathead Lake, where they achieve trophy sizes of up to 25 pounds, the Bull Trout life cycle has been studied extensively. . 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 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. Extend your river adventure with three to four days of North Fork Flathead River Rafting. View Stream Flow Data. isnt attached. The White River trip was supposed to involve paddle). Anglers will fly into Kalispell and drive or get shuttled to the Wilderness Lodge near the Spotted Bear trailhead (or stay the night in a local hotel and drive to the trailhead early the next morning). View Stream Flow Data. Site cast to trophy trout cruising the shallows of several productive lakes. Moccasin Creek Another 8 mile run that is great for half or full day runs. Mark. I would recommend this trip to any fly fisherman who craves a unique experience. We also offer fair chase Wilderness Elk & Mule Deer hunts at our remote camp.Your comfort, enjoyment, safety and satisfaction are of the utmost importance to us. I'm sure it has mellowed a bit with flows around 2400. Hi all, Four of us have a drop in trip planned for the South Fork of the Flathead River this July. 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". Contact Us Where shall your adventure begin? Build lasting relationships with your best clients or reward your key employees with one of our custom built corporate fishing retreats. Sonja's 406-822-4358. (from Crossover Boat Ramp south and upstream to the confluence of Youngs and Danaher creeks), Copyright 2018 Zach Lazzari Outdoor Media, S F Flathead R ab Twin C nr Hungry Horse MT, Exceptions to Standard Regulations: Flathead River, Flathead Lake north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary, Confluence of the North and Middle forks (near Blankenship Bridge) downstream to Flathead Lake, Flathead Indian Reservation boundary to mouth, All waters upstream from Hungry Horse Damn, including Hungry Horse Reservoir and tributaries except Meadow Creek section (see below), Mainstem upstream from Hungry Horse Reservoir, Meadow Creek Bridge to Spotted Bear foot bridge and tributaries, Hungry Horse Dam downstream to Devils Elbow and tributaries, Devils Elbow downstream to mouth and tributaries. Planning to spend . There are only a few commercial Outfitting Permits on the river, and we are one of them. You can also see a plane wreck just inside Here are our recommendations for rods, lines, flies, tippet, waders and more. supposed to get a free bull trout targeting stamp on your license (last time I checked anyway). The river is divided into several distinct sections. These are all the maps youll need. 65 miles from the origin to Hungry Reservoir and almost all of it flows through remote wilderness. Look Ron Kopitze and Brian Rogers float the Spruce Park section of the upper Middle Fork of the Flathead River recently. Even hitting multiple access points on the same river can be helpful with a car never mind the post-fishing ice cream, beer, dinner run. Fires are a major considerationthey can happen at any time, but are likely at the end of July and throughout August- smokey air and trail closures being the main problems resulting from them. There were springs above the rocks on the other side of the river, and there was the constant sound of dripping water from that side. Most of the parties on the river were rafting. Because the South Fork lies within the Bob Marshall Wilderness, special regulations and permits apply. It appears that the the pack teams all take the Hahn cabin trail instead of going down that section of the Youngs creek trail. There's a pour over on the outside / river left and at 4000 cfs is easy to avoid by staying river right. 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. Personally I think because of the rise of the packraft the river will be permitted in the next 10 years or the fishing will suffer, but that is life. I have done all my trips in July and only been The South Fork Flathead attracts lots of fishermen with small inflatables, and some with big rafts. None of We are ready to get your vehicle down the river. Unfortunately most of those articles are more on the inspiring side and less on the practical, which is what this article sets out to do. Site identification number Each site in the USGS data base has a unique 8- to 15-digit identification number. Ive seen one Blackbear and have had a handful of customers report black bear sightings on the river. We put on Youngs at Babcock at 6000 cfs at the gauge and that was perfect for that Creek. The South Fork drainage is the largest stronghold of these native Char in the Lower 48 states. Hey Ben, thanks for the update. It's important to keep in mind that the river changes annually and there may be log jams and new rapids in places where there weren't before. I felt that it had mellowed out even at 3000-4000 than compared with previous years floating around the same levels. Weather in the Northern Rockies can be fickle and it is always a good idea to come prepared regardless of the season. From here, it runs 45 miles due north, fed by dozens of . The first and third time we entered the Bob (Bob Marshall Wilderness) via the Youngs Creek Pass off of Lodgepole Trail Head(just north of Ovando, MT) and the second we started from Bench Mark (West of Augusta, MT) and went in on the South Fork of the Sun then up and over White River Pass. of those days out, but prepare for all these things! The huge log jam just before Gordon Creek flows in now has a good side channel river right that skirts you around the log jam. After years of dreaming about packing a boat over the mountains and plying the Bob Marshalls waters, Ben Romans decided to finally scratch it off his bucket list. The South Fork of the Flathead in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Plan for your Montana fishing trip. It's remote. 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. Legal fishing season for bull trout usually closes on July 31. We are up a running by 6AM, everyday of the week. Mid Creek Takout This is where you will takeout from the Wilderness float. 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. I like Lazy J Bar O for the packing into the wilderness area. Rates and terms for some of our standard trips. These four fisheries are very restrictive because bull trout are listed as a threatened All camping and fishing equipment is provided. And it runs through the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, just south of Glacier National Park. 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