Secondly, these waters are cold, being fed by groundwater and glacier fed streams. Boaters must have their non-motorized watercraft inspected for Aquatic Invasive Species by an NPS inspector prior to river camping on the Glacier side, even if they are launching from the Flathead National Forest. This is about 2 miles south of the Trailhead, and requires a short walk to the river. Utilizing the services of an outfitter is a great move. Special regulations and limits apply when fishing in the wilderness portion of the South Fork. The North Fork Flathead River originates 50 miles across the border in British Columbia, Canada. Check out our Interactive Fishing Maps! It is a Class III+ river, with steeper gradient upstream, expect narrow channels, shallow gravel bars and logjam potential. To even contemplate going through this gorge will require a very small, tough raft, whitewater inflatable kayak or hard shell kayak, as any large raft is quite likely to get frequently stuck and require countless portages. The South Fork Flathead River is home to an incredible number of Westslope Cutthroat, and the huge Bull Trout (Dolly Varden). We also have the following visitor guides in Montana. It is essentially the same river today as it was 100 years ago. It's a long journey to get there. Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout in the Flathead River basin are adfluvial, that is they spend time in Flathead Lake rearing to adulthood until its time to spawn. View detailed fishing guide books & river maps for Montana. North Fork Flathead River is a river in Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, MT. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 4 43 42 41 Ford Spruce Cr to Round Prairie LIMITED CAMPING 1 PARTY PER NIGHT o o!}!} From the take out point, it is a three-mile walk to the Meadow Creek Trailhead. Read this in-depth guide on how to select a fly rod to meet your own specific fishing needs. The highway follows the river from Bear Creek all the way to West Glacier at the confluence of the North and Middle Forks, however the road is hardly noticed. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. A scenic float in Glacier National Park is the perfect way to unwind on a raft. This peaceful and tranquil setting changes when the river reaches Meadow Creek Gorge. Below the dam, the river only runs for 5 miles. Campgrounds can also be found in Glacier National Park. Six Montana paddlers took a five day backpacking and packrafting trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to float about 56 miles of the South Fork of the Flathead River in mid-July. The Bob is not a National Park, where a traveler is likely to bump into countless hordes of people wandering its trails. The river is wide and frequently quite deep. Copyright 2002 - 2020 Big Sky Fishing.Com, Introduction to the South Fork Flathead River, Photographs of the South Fork Flathead River, How to Choose the Best Inflatable Boat for Your Needs, How to Protect Your Phone While Fishing or Floating, Big Prairie Ranger Station Pack Bridge: 92, Black Bear Ranger Station Pack Bridge: 69.5, Takeout to avoid Meadow Creek Gorge: 61.6, Log Landing (take out point before Reservoir): 40. The designated segment is the lowermost 10.8 miles of the river. Transportation companies, driving directions and more for Kalispell. Floating the South Fork of the Flathead River is perhaps one of the finest floats anyone can do in the lower 48. To simply reach the interior of the Bob frequently requires hikes or horse packs of several days. However, if you time your trip right, before spring runoff, you can catch larger westslope cutthroat trout that migrate from Flathead Lake on their spring spawning runs. Since the fishing pressure is low, the trout aren’t horribly picky about what they will take. The Bob has been on my radar for years, because inside The Bob is one of the greatest multi-day float trips in America: the South Fork of the Flathead River. And the pack in is neither quick nor easy—any pack in requires covering at least 25 miles or more of mountainous terrain. Flathead River. ... No permits are required to float the river. The river brings with it the rugged remoteness that one would expect from the Canadian Rockies. The headwaters of the Flathead River drain the SE corner of British Columbia in Canada. Up until reaching Meadow Creek Gorge 40 miles later, described later, the river presents no special challenges to a rafter. However, if you’re not, here’s something else to consider before putting that trout into the frying pan. The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. From there, the South Fork trail more or less follows the river throughout its journey in the wilderness area. Flathead River Canadian Border to Spruce Cr NO CAMPING THIS SECTION Round Prairie ... See Inset See Inset See Inset Glacier National Park North Fork Flathead R Middle Fork Flathead R. o o!} Shore Thing Shuttles – Mainstem above Flathead Lake. Other than the Meadow Creek Gorge area, a wade fisherman can access virtually any segment of this river, spending weeks if not months exploring every pool, run and riffle. The North Fork Flathead River divides the Flathead National Forest from Glacier National Park. Most travelers to the wilderness complex do not come here to fish. With near freezing water no longer flowing through the river during the middle of the summer, insect hatches have improved significantly on both the South Fork and the main stem of the Flathead River. Grizzly bears, moose, elk and wolves all call the Bob home. As railroads developed in the 19th century, serving New York City market was vital, but problematic. Just be careful not to spook the fish—the waters of the South Fork of the Flathead River are crystal clear. This county maintained road parallels the river along it’s entire length. Once the fry emerge from the gravels, juveniles will rear in these tributaries for 1-3 years until they migrate back to Flathead Lake. The scenery is spectacular, as the river flows through a pristine and remote wilderness. A raft floats past a towering cutbank while floating the upper North Fork of the Flathead River in late July. Dangerous sweeper logs can be common and the braided channels just below Coal Creek suggest that you check in advance with the Ranger Station for the latest conditions. Your email and your recipient's email will NOT be shared with anyone. Fixed structures include docks, piers, mooring piles, floating docks, boat lifts, riprap and other structures that occupy currently flowed tidelands for more than ten consecutive days. An angler needs to check the regulations as many tributary streams are closed to fishing to protect spawning bull trout and cutthroat trout. The river provides outstanding fishing for native Montana trout in a remote and beautiful setting. The North Fork Flathead River originates 50 miles across the border in British Columbia, Canada. The food web in Flathead Lake is most likely still changing and it is difficult to predict what the outcome may be. 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