Towns along the river include West Glacier, Nyack, Pinnacle, Essex, and Nimrod. Its drainage basin lies to the east of the South Fork Flathead River and the Hungry Horse Reservoir. Best time of day to fish: all day. "Anglers could only use a single hook on those sections of the Flathead River." “The Middle Fork of the Flathead River begins just outside the Great Bear Wilderness, which is located south of Glacier National Park. There are many access points between these two towns, and the middle portion has very little pressure from fishermen and floaters. Water flow: 1230. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River lies to the southeast of Glacier National Park, beginning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Use of bait allowed. Join us as we discuss the Montana Fishing License options, fishing rules and fishing regulations. Camping is limited to designated river sections; see map above. Wilsonville Pond. Sometimes it can be difficult for anglers who are unfamiliar with these landmarks to know which section they are fishing. The rugged area includes the landscapes of Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness areas. Middle Fork river camping is administered by the USFS/FNF and is subject to Flathead National Forest camping regulations. Its drains an area east of the South Fork Flathead River. Every effort is made to use special rules to standardize the rules and bag limits across regional boundaries. All trips run on the North and Middle Fork of the Flathead River and allow you to experience some of the best Glacier National Park fishing. Full-day trips give you ample time to find your rhythm and hunt down “the big one” while soaking up the scenery that surrounds you. Middle Fork of the Flathead River Fishing Report. Middle Fork Flathead River. Maybe the fishing will be better too. River Flows Middle Fork of Flathead River (Near West Glacier) Flathead River (Near Columbia Falls) North Fork of Flathead River (Near Columbia Falls) Search for River Flow Data The wilderness mountain settings, clear waters, campfires, wilderness lakes and streams, and superb fishing will wash away worldly cares. No minimum length on warmwater fish. 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. 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. Flathead River. North Fork Flathead River is a stream located just 8.3 miles from Columbia Falls, in Flathead County, in the state of Montana, United States, near Coram, MT. Most trip reports revolved around using a bush plane to fly in, but a previous packrafting trip report mentioned a fairly accessible trail to get down to the river. Mouth to Hwy 395 bridge. Update from most recent customers to get out of South Fork of the Flathead (take-out on Sunday 7/15):River running high, but green not muddy. The South Fork of the Flathead River enters the Main Stem of the Flathead about five miles below Hungry Horse Dam that forms the big Hungry Horse Reservoir on the South Fork. Feather River : Both the Feather River and the American River rely on landmarks to mark areas that are either closed or open to fishing. The Middle Fork has bigger cutthroat, up to 16”- 18”, but lower numbers than the North Fork. This kind of camping is administered by the USFS/FNF and is subject to the camping regulations set by the Flathead National Forest. It’s a June-July game in most years. Fully licensed and insured. 2 channel catfish per day. The Middle Fork Flathead River is a 92 mile long river part of which forms the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. Its drainage basin lies to the east of the South Fork Flathead River and the Hungry Horse Reservoir. It’s 27 miles and can be done in a day but multiple days are ideal for really taking your time and enjoying the river. Visibility: 60 inches. John Day River, Middle Fork. The Flathead River starts high in the Rockies around Glacier National Park, flowing down into Flathead Lake before continuing on to meet up with the Clark Fork. Fly fishing only, barbless hooks required. Starting from Essex, Montana, US Highway 2 parallels the river to West Glacier. Many of our summer guests plan to include fly fishing as some part of their Middle Fork trip. Beavertail Pond: Missoula County . A Stimulator can raise the big ones. Above Hwy 395 bridge. Here at Glacier Anglers, we fish both the Middle and North Forks. Fly fishing the Flathead … Camping is limited to one … The Flathead River flows for about 158 miles. Below are links we felt would be helpful in enjoying your next fishing trip. The upper section of the river offers primitive recreation in a wilderness setting. The Middle Fork is paralleled by Highway 2 but access is more difficult. Truly unspoiled, the region teems with fish and wildlife of all kinds. Flathead County . Please remember to check with the local Fish and Wildlife department to ensure the stream is open to the public. Open all year. CA DFG Fishing Regulations: Feather River & American River. Alternate names for this stream include Flathead River - North Fork, North Fork of Flathead River and North Fork of the Flathead River. Best stretch: Teakettle to Presentine. 10 crappie per day. No limit on size or number of bass. This river's drainage is huge, including a large part of Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Float fishing gets you to good water but some sections have high-rated whitewater so get a 3 Forks of the Flathead float map. The Flathead River represents the combined flow of hundreds of headwater creeks funneled from the glacial cirques of Glacier National Park and other wild places within the U.S. and Canada. Open all year. Glacier National Park does not issue camping permits for the Middle Fork. The North Fork and Middle Fork meet at Blankenship forming the main stem of the Flathead. The Middle Fork emerges from the wilderness area near Essex, where it flows past a unique place called the "Goat Lick." Fly Fishing on your Middle Fork Trip. The Middle Fork Flathead River is a 92-mile (148 km) river in western Montana in the United States, forming the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. 2 trout per day, 8 inch minimum length. The Flathead River system is comprised of the North Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork and the main Flathead River which is formed when the Middle Fork and South Fork come together just South West of Hungry Horse, MT. the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Need a Flathead River Shuttle? fishing the Middle Fork Flathead River ranges from easy to very difficult, depending on the section you choose to fish. We’ll see to your comforts and prepare meals fit for a king. All our Middle Fork trips are outfitted for fishing. The Middle Fork of the Flathead had never been on my radar before, but a quick Google revealed a gem of a river that actually inspired the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act back in 1968. Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for Trout fishing in Middle Fork of the Flathead River with the top producing flies and recommended equipment to get you into fish. Our experienced fishing guides know the Middle Fork of the Flathead River intimately and look forward to sharing their knowledge with you. All three forks are designated (either entirely or in part) as National Wild and Scenic Rivers. Middle Fork Flathead River is a stream located just 8.3 miles from Columbia Falls, in Flathead County, in the state of Montana, United States, near Coram, MT. Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release; No bait allowed, barbless hooks required; No bag, size or possession limits on bass ; Multiple Regional Bag Limits Apply The Middle Fork Salmon River overlaps multiple regional boundaries. Class III-IV rapids require experienced boaters through here as well. 1 bass per day. Hole in the Wall gorge on Young's creek has a strainer tree in the middle of a rapid, but the Forest Service put up a sign and you can portage around it and it may be possible to paddle around it as well. "And so that would include the middle, north and south forks of the Flathead and those tributaries on those rivers," says FWP spokesperson Dillon Tabish. Closed from Hwy 7 to Summit Cr. Hook-gap size may not exceed 3/8 inch. Undesignated River Camping Regulations. Party size is limited to 12 People. Boats must travel at no-wake speed from 5 AM-10 AM and 7 PM-11 PM each day. The trick to finding them is to cut the river down to size, fishing obvious holes and pools behind rocks, fishing around the numerous forks in the river, and along bank cover, such as downed trees. Flathead River. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Montana! Middle Fork Flathead River. From the headwaters to Schafer Meadows, a narrow channel and log jams make the river generally unsuitable for floating. October 29, 2016 June 14, 2020 by Matt. FWP says angling pressure has been increasing on all three forks of the Flathead River over the last decade. Middle Fork Flathead River Boat Ramps. Undesignated River Camping Regulations. The Middle Fork Flathead River is a 92-mile (148 km) river in western Montana in the United States, forming the southwestern boundary of Glacier National Park. See the Montana Fishing Regulations for special angling and boating restrictions that apply to commercial outfitters and nonresidents. Glacier National park does not issue camping permits for the Middle Fork. Willamette River, North Fork Middle Fork and Tributaries. Open for hatchery steelhead Jan 1 – Apr 30 and Sep 1 – Dec 31. The Flathead River holds a decent population of medium sized rainbow and cutthroat trout. We can help on the North and Middle Forks on Glacier Park's border rivers. The Flathead River is made up of three forks, the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork. Last Updated: 12 / 2 / 2020 Fishing Report; Fly Patterns; Water Flow and Tide Chart; Fishing Conditions Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby: Glacier Anglers. Salmon River, Middle Fork and tributaries . The Middle Fork The Middle Fork of the Flathead River originates in the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Middle Fork Flathead River. Use of bait allowed. No limit on size or number of bass. Winberry Creek and Tributaries. Typically, we start fishing both rivers in … 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. The designated river includes the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork above Hungry Horse Reservoir and features recreation, scenery, historic sites, unique fisheries and wildlife such as grizzly bears and wolves. Schafer Meadows – Pack or fly into this area float the wilderness stretch of the river out. Experienced fishermen usually prefer to bring their own gear. 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