South Fork Flathead River Fishing
Report: 04/03/23
(see bottom of page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone and Tailwater
Species
Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat
Grayling
Bull Trout (must be released)
Location
Northwestern Montana
Size:
Large, about 45 miles long
Nearest Towns
Hungry Horse
Season
3rd Sat of May through Nov 30th.
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Montana
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Stream Flow Data:
Below Hungry Horse Dam
Seasons:
Seasons follow the general Montana fishing season.
Spring:
Late springtime has some fishing opportunities except during runoff.
Summer:
The Summer would be best time for fly fishing the South Fork of the Flathead River.
Fall:
Early Fall can be good.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Report South Fork Flathead River Montana
Of the three forks of the Flathead River, as well as the main stem of the river, the South Fork offers the best fishing opportunities. The reason is very simple. Few anglers will go to the trouble to reach it to fish it and the fishing regulations help protect it even more. Fly fishing the South Fork of the Flathead River should remain a favorite for the explorer type of angler for a long time. It has plenty of good size cutthroat and rainbow trout along with some grayling and some fully protected bull trout. The South Fork is the favorite of the Flatheads.
The South Fork of the Flathead River is a truly remote stream. It forms in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, one of if not the largest wilderness area in the states. It can only be accessed by foot or horseback. We don’t often do this, but in this case, if your going to fish the upper section of the river, we recommend you use an outfitter.
Access is to the wilderness is very good. There are many trials that transverse the giant area of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The South Fork of the Flathead River can be accessed from the upper end of the Hungry Horse Reservoir which you can be reached by traveling about fifty miles on a dirt road. From there you have to either travel by horseback or backpack in. A trialhead leads to the South Fork of the river. The South Fork Trail follows the river for its entire length.
The South Fork of the Flathead River is over forty miles long before also five miles of the stream in the tailwater section between the dam and the main stem of the Flathead River.
Even when you arrive, you will find the South Fork of the Flathead River very difficult to fish. It flows for several miles through the Meadow Creek Gorge, a deep canyon-like area. You must hike in a good ways from the trialhead to fish. Once you get to the river, unless the water is very high, you will find it easy to wade.
There are several special fishing regulations that apply to the wilderness portion of the South Fork of the Flathead River. You should make certain you check the current regulations prior to fishing the river.
The South Fork tailwater below Hungry Horse Dam flows for only five miles before it joins the main stem of the Flathead River, but It too, provides some good fly fishing opportunities. Except for a few locals, most anglers that travel that far to fish, do so to fish the wilderness area.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for The North Fork Of
The Flathead River Montana
Fly Line:
We recommend fly lines ranging from a 5 weight for dry flies to a six weight for nymphs and streamers.
Leaders:
You should have leaders ranging from a 9 foot tapered leader to a 12 foot in sizes from 0X
for streamers up to a 7X for midges and tiny flies. You may want some shorter streamer
leaders.
Tippet:
Carry tippet ranging in sizes from 0x to 7X.
Fly Rod:
The fly rod for the 5 weight line should be nine feet long to assist in casting in the wind
normal for the North Fork Flathead River, in a medium fast action. The six weight should
be nine feet long in a medium fast action with a stiffer tip for nymphing.
Fly Reel:
Reels for the lines sizes you choose to use in the 5 and 6 weight line size should be light
and have good drags.
Waders:
Waders are definitely recommended. We prefer the breathable type but neoprene may be
better in cold weather.
Wading Boots:
Felt soled wading boots are our choice.
Landing Net:
A landing net is recommended, but not a requirement.
Trout Flies:
Our “Perfect Flies” are the best ones you could possibly use for fly fishing the North Fork
Flathead River. We have flies to match every terrestrial and aquatic insect in all stages of
life. If you haven’t done so already, please give them a try. You will be glad you did. Having
good imitations of the insects the trout see day in and day out is a big advantage.
North Fork Flathead River Fishing Report:
92/26/2020 The season is still closed but let us help you plan your next trip there: Send us an email at: sales@perfectflystore.com.
05/30/20 The river is very high and highly stained from Spring runoff. Now is the time to get your gear and flies ready for the upcoming good opportunity. Shoot us an email and let us help you.
07/18/20 Stream levels are down to where it can be fished but will be better when it gets a little lower. We haven’t received any reports as of today.
08/01/20 The stream level is down and the river in good shape. Good hatches are taking
place.
08/19/20 We are getting a few good reports from customers fishing various sections of the river. Hatches include Pale Morning Duns, Pale Evening duns, Golden stoneflies, Little Yellow stoneflies and Spotted sedges and other insects.
03/18/21 Season is closed: Shoot us an email and let us help you plan that next trip.
sales@perfectflystore.com
South Fork Flathead River Fishing Report:
02/26/2020 The season is still closed but it is not too earl to send us an email to help you plan
your next trip. Send us an email at: sales@perfectflystore.com.
05/30/20 The river is up and muddy due to spring runoff but will be dropping back down soon
and clearing. Now is the time to get your flies and gear in order. Shoot us an email and let us
help you.
07/18/20 Stream levels are down to a normal level and trout are being caught by our
customers in good numbers. There are some good hatches taking place.
08/01/20 Good stream conditions exist and we continue to get some good reports. There are
some very good hatches being reported.
08/19/20 We get fewer reports on this watershed than the others. Stream levels are in good
shape and there are lots of insects hatching. We received some good reports this past
weekend. Shoot us an email and we will send you a list of recommended flies.
03/18/21 Season is closed: Shoot us an email and let us help you plan that next trip.
sales@perfectflystore.com
06/11/21 The season is open. We still haven’t received any reports but expect some soon. Stream levels have been high. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
07/09/21 We still don’t have any reports from anyone fishing this section but we do know there are some guys fishing the river and we should be getting reports very soon.
07/27/21 We received one good report from a group that fished it this past week. There are a lot of hatching insects and they managed to cast several fish.
08/21/21 The river is in good shape. The levels are still a little low but rising. There is more rain in the forecast and that will help. We received two good reports recently from customers. There are some good hatches.
09/03/21 We received two good reports from two groups of customers fishing the river the past week. Conditions were not ideal but the trip was. Good numbers and sizes of trout were caught in the under fished waters.
09/20/21 The stream is in good shape with good levels. We received two good reports this past week.
06/24/22 Runoff conditions exist. It won’t be long so now is the time to get your flies and gear together.
08/07/22 Conditions are good. The stream is flowing near a normal level and there are good hatches taking place.
04/03/23 To update the website.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.