The South Fork of the Flathead, located in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, is a horsepack in/float out trip of 5-7 days, putting you over feisty Cutthroats to 22â³ and âBull Troutâ to 15 pounds. They live where brown trout and most rainbows can’t. In addition, high flows signal a time for mature fish to push upriver and negotiate roily tributary streams, places where they find mates and pea-sized gravel conducive to their spawning effort. Depending on the time of year, anglers could be throwing large foam flies, deer hair caddis flies, or tiny emerging mayflies. 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 … south fork flathead fly fishing 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. At least three lodges are located outside the wilderness on the lower South Fork and when hiking into the South Fork drainage anglers should expect to encounter private and commercial packtrains, likely several a day. You’ll never release the memories you catch here. The lower mainstem Flathead River drains from the southwest corner of the lake and draws waters from an arid valley basin throughout its 75-mile course. 3,483 cu ft/s (98.6 m3/s), Basin features The next cast brought a fish from bedrock to the top. Salmon Forks is one of the few places to legally target native bull trout. Bigfork, MT. The South Fork of the Flathead River is pristine and virtually untouched, just the way it was 100 years ago. They eat everything in sight because they have to. Fortunately, anglers atone for that average size in the number of fish landed and they find an overall experience they couldn’t dream of on the big-name streams, such as the Madison, Big Horn, Beaverhead or Yellowstone, where boat-launch lines are common and many fish wear multiple hook scars on their faces. Our shop is conveniently located just one block from the South River, and we’re open 7 days a week. In that reservoir the fish find minimal current, which allows them to conserve energy. A South Fork cutthroat’s challenges don’t end with winter. Hike-in anglers are free to fish anywhere they please, however far away from the main trails their feet and mindset are willing to take them. Grizzly and black bears tempt the conscious from their dark, forested lairs, just off the trail and behind camp. Recall, brown trout came from Europe in the late 1880s and rainbows arrived from California. When the time comes, I’ll take my children to the river and teach them to fish dry flies for eager cutthroats. Call Chris and Tara now to book yourMontana Fly Fishing Experience (406) 249-1482or (406) 210-0511. It is one of the three main forks of the Flathead River, a tributary of the Clark Fork River. During that smorgasbord, cutthroats feed with abandon, pretty much rising to any insect passing overhead, desperately trying to replace lost weight, while building an energy surplus to sustain them through another challenging winter season. Today, fishing for South Fork bull trout, which range to 10 pounds or more, is allowed between the third Saturday in May and August 15. It almost seems like a prerequisite for the fishing trips we take is this: They must be sure-bets so we can strain as much from our time as possible. The South Fork of the Flathead, located in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, is a horsepack in/float out trip of 5-7 days, putting you over feisty Cutthroats to 22″ and “Bull Trout” to 15 pounds. It’s time to start dreaming about the best summer fly fishing trips for 2020, and if we are limited to doing so within our state borders this year, I drew a good card—Montana offers a lifetime of fly-fishing adventure and gas is cheap right now. Treat them gently. The reservoir trends north then northwest, and the river then passes through the arched Hungry Horse Dam, just a few miles above the mouth. That tally: 43 cutthroats, ranging between six and 17 inches, landed and released; at least 30 more lost via a thrown hook; and another half-dozen trout that leaped over the fly and missed it on the way down, an act that added amusement to a great day on the water. Flathead River Fly Fishing Patterns. The ride in is 6-8 hours so at least two of the days will be devoted to riding on horseback. Discharge For some 40 miles (64 km), the river flows freely north-northwest, meandering through a forested and undeveloped valley. Montana Fly Fishing Experience guides are the some of the most experienced boatmen on this beautiful stretch of river. The South Fork of the Flathead River is pristine and virtually untouched, just the way it was 100 years ago. Adding intrigue to a South Fork foray is the method in which anglers access the river—by horseback or on foot, with heavy packs on their backs, following significant trails that course steep bluffs and lead into the wilderness. The lower mainstem Flathead River drains from the southwest corner of the lake and draws waters from an arid valley basin throughout its 75-mile course. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a major river in Northwestern Montana. I see the cutthroat as a daredevil and a survivor. Access is difficult on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Above the lake, the Flathead River flows through the upper Flathead Valley, home to such popular towns as Whitefish and Kalispell. Wolverines tromp across shale nine thousand feet above sea-level digging rodents from rock piles, crushing their prey in powerful jaws. Best fishing is late June through October. Flathead River Fly Fishing. Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
, All Time 10 Best Fly-Fishing Nymphs for the Rocky Mountains. The South Fork of the Flathead River is a truly remote stream. They require of anglers a dedicated effort, a solid hike or a horseback trip to reach. Wilderness is wilderness and enforcement of that regulation is nearly impossible. In fact, the South Fork’s trout are mostly modest specimens ranging between six and 14 inches, but 16-inchers are taken with regularity and 17-to 20-inch fish are occasionally landed. Many experienced anglers highly regard the bull trout and consider it a âbucket listâ species. The South Fork is a cutthroat-trout laden stream that flows through the pristine, densely forested Bob Marshall Wilderness, a one-million acre chunk of protected turf that offers a quintessential western fly-fishing experience—a level of solitude in wild country with naïve trout taken on nothing more representative than bushy attractor dry flies. It was a 2 day horseback, 5 day fly-fishing float trip back into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. 8-Day South Fork Fly-fishing Trip ~ $5900.00 *Price subject to 7% Forest Service User Fees. Since the water is so cold and clear, you have to be a qualified angler to land fish. Following is a description of that trip, with all the humor and trials thrown in. Fishing seasons . The price is the same for a 5 or 6 day trip you can decide which is best for you. South Fork of the Flathead River This is a video I shot, of a trip that Paws Up Outfitters offered. Home Trip South Fork Flathead River Horseback Fly Fishing Home of the native Westslope Cutthroat trout, “Montana’s State Fish” the South Fork of the Flathead River is born in the nation’s most beautiful wilderness, the Bob Marshall. Enjoy dry fly fishing for native westslope cutthroat trout while floating down this glacial influenced gin clear western freestone. Fishing Reports, South Fork The river helps the BWO and mahogany dun activity by having a near constant flow ( 6050 cfs at Irwin, 6700 cfs at Heise, 3550 cfs at Lorenzo) of clear, cool water for several days, but it looks like a drop in flow out of Palisades is coming up. If you choose to do that, make sure you are deft on the oars and know what you are getting into. Shaggy-maned mountain goats dance across granite cliffs, snubbing their snouts at gravity. About 20 miles into its journey, after flowing down the gentle, south-sloping gradient of the Flathead Basin floor, the river empties into Flathead Lake. Cutthroats levitate for dry flies at a methodical pace that forces anglers to employ every ounce of patience before setting the hook. We guide our fly fishing float trips on the Flathead River above Flathead Lake. Snow-pack, run-off, and weather conditions can alter the hatch times considerably. By mid-November, when harsh weather returns to northwest Montana, the South Fork’s cutthroat head for the reservoir, hoping they carry enough mass and fat reserves to survive another winter. A few moments after the tents were erected I cast an obnoxiously large, size-10 Royal Wulff over the current. An explosion occurred at the surface and moments later I twisted a fly from the mouth of an eight-inch cutthroat and set that fish free. All fish in the South Fork of the Flathead River are wild as the river is not stocked with hatchery fish. It definitely belongs the list of Best Places in Montana to Fish. In addition, hair-wing Trudes, Elk-Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, foam beetles, Humpies, and Renegades rarely meet refusal. Large streamers are typically in order when targeting the bull trout. A real nice westslope cutthroat ready for release. The river also offers bull trout, which can range past 30 inches, and you can legally fish them in this river, if you have a special bull trout permit, which you can buy over the counter. Fly Fishing Near Glacier National Park The Flathead River system is a unique fishery located around Glacier National Park and is made up of three forks which eventually drain into Flathead Lake. Horses and mules transport us, our boats and gear 20 to 26 miles (depending upon which trail we take in and the itinerary). The river here is wide and frequently quite deep and … The Flathead River takes work to learn. Flathead River Fly Fishing Report. This gin-clear river runs through the Bob Marshall Wilderness for nearly its full length, south to north. Yes, some anglers say, cutthroats are beautiful fish and they are fun to catch. Packed with fly fishing focused content on the world’s finest fly fishing lodges, outfitters and destinations. 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