FANTASTIC MONTANA FLY FISHING WILDERNESS ADVENTURES. SOUTH FORK FLATHEAD RIVER

Home of the native westslope cutthroat trout, the South Fork of the Flathead River is born in the nation’s most beautiful wilderness in Montana, the “Bob Marshall.” Untouched by human development, it is truly nature as God intended it. This is one of the last pure native cutthroat trout fisheries in the world. The westslope cutthroat feed almost entirely on insects and love to rise to dry flies. The crystal clear, icy cold South Fork is also home to the healthiest bull trout population in Montana.

From July through October, our tent camp keeps you within 2 minutes of river and some of the best Montana fly fishing the South Fork of the Flathead River has to offer. Access to the river is unlimited, you can fish for miles or just several hundred yards.

Some of our Montana fly fishing guests never go farther than thirty minutes from camp and catch 20 to 40 plus feisty, thick-bodied 14 to 20 inch cuts daily. Prime time to fish these waters is August through September. One of our fly fishing guests, John P., who had floated the South Fork of the Flathead River three times, said “we floated right past the best fly fishing spots on the South Fork, now I can fish them all the time, and come back to a great meal and a comfortable place to sleep.”

Big Salmon Lake

The lake is so crystal clear that often you can go fishing and see the fish swimming up for a strike. Ride along the lake, where you can look down on a sunny day and see the fish swimming along the shoreline, and the mountains reflecting in the lake. This is a picture you will have in your memories for years to come.

Camp Life

You will stay in our comfortable camp overlooking the South Fork of the Flathead. Sleep in our large and spacious wall tents, with comfortable cots, foam pads, heating stoves, and plenty of room to hang your clothes. We also have very comfortable dome tents for couples and singles. Take a hot shower in our shower tent.

Enjoy tasty home-cooked meals, steaks on the grill, turkey dinner with all the trimmings, roasts, full course breakfasts, desserts and breads baked in the dutch oven. Spend the evening sitting around the camp fire enjoying the solitude and camaraderie of camp life in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness. See more stars than you have ever seen. There’s no “light pollution” here!

Rates

Montana Fly Fishing Trips start in July and run every week through September. We offer 5 or 7 day trips, most people prefer the 7 days, as there are a lot of things to see and do!

  • Five-day trips are $1,800.00 per-person
  • Seven-day trips are $2,300.00 per-person

    First night Lodging at the Diamond R Lodge
    Included in your trip price is your first night lodging at the beautiful Diamond R Lodge, a two hour drive into the mountains and situated on the Spotted Bear River. See pictures in our photo album.
    You will have your own rustic cabin. Take a hike, enjoy a great evening meal, including beverages, in their beautiful lodge or on their deck overlooking the Spotted Bear river. In the evening you can set around a great camp fire and just take it all in!!
    In the morning you will have a great breakfast, fix a trail lunch and then take a 30 minute drive to the trailhead, where you will be assigned your horse for the week have a short orientation and head into the wilderness for a great adventure!
    If you are flying, we also furnish airport pickup and transporation to the Diamond R from Glacier International Airport, Kalispell, Montana.

    >b> ALL OF THIS IS INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP COST
    Fill out our request form for more details.     > Salmon Forks Fishing Itinerary & Gear List

    Arrive the afternoon of the day before your trip starts.
    If flying, (Glacier International Airport, Kalispell, Montana is your destination,) we will meet you at the airport, and take you to Diamond R Lodge near our trailhead, where you will stay the first night. If you are driving, we will furnish directions where we will meet you in Columbia Falls at the Tidwell place and head to the lodge. Try to arrive no later then 1:30 or 2:00 PM in afternoon.
    We will pickup your gear and duffel that day. Keep out just what you will need for that night and the ride in the next day. You will not have access to your camp duffel until you get to camp. Have a small handbag to leave at trailhead with a change of clothes for trip home

    For your last night stay you need to make reservations at the Super Eight in Columbia Falls, Montana, their phone number is 406-892-0888 You will be able to catch a shuttle service to the airport from there. Do this early as they fill up that time of year. Tell them you are making a trip with Salmon Forks Outfitters and they will give you a discount. We will be dropping you off hear at the end of your trip.

    For The Ride In
    Wear loose fitting clothes, warm coat, (can be tied behind saddle as day warms up) gloves, rain gear, wide brim hat is nice if it rains, comfortable boots that you can walk in.
    Saddles have “horn bags”, will hold lunch, small water bottle (12 to 16oz) pop bottle works fine, small camera. Do not intend on caring a small backpack on your back, it is just too uncomfortable.
    Wake up at 5:30 am, Breakfast at 6:00 at the lodge.
    Arrive at trailhead at 7:30. Head for Salmon Forks, arriving about 4:00 PM
    Fish and enjoy the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
    Last day of trip we will leave about 9:AM arriving at trail head at 4:00 PM
    You will be at the motel about 6:30 – 7:00 PM
    There will be shuttle service to the airport. Most people fly out the next day. Some Suggestions For Gear
    Duffel Bags: There are so many out there! A 34 to 36 inch works well for us, just bring what you have.
    Bring your favorite fishing gear in hard tube case. We will have on hand some fishing lures & flies. You will be fishing mainly for west slope cutthroat trout.
    Waders or shoes to wade in, water is quite cold. Felt type boots are best for slippery rocks.
    Water Bottle: We filter water when in camp. You may want to bring a water bottle with a built in filter for use when on the trail. There are several good ones now on the market!
    Small daypack to carry your lunch and misc. bic lighter, small flashlight
    Sleeping bag, small pillow if needed. We furnish foam pads & cots
    All personal items bring own towels. We have hand soap & shampoo in camp.
    Comfortable shoes for around camp. Tennis shoes etc!
    Approx.—Three changes clothes, shorts, warm jacket, Swim Suit, Small daypack or fishing vest.
    Try to have clothes so you can dress in layers as temperatures change.
    Temperatures during July, August & early September are 70s to 80s; 50s at night.
    Try to keep duffel to 40 lbs per person.
    We have a washbasin, first aid kit. (Bring own towels.)
    Any special medications, bring own.
    Any food allergies let us know.
    Any questions give us a call at 1-800-228-7806
    When you receive our travel form there is a place to order any special beverages.

    Check out our latest fishing video by Terra F. on You – Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZkeu_YoA_s

A True Montana Wilderness Experience.

Salmon Forks Outfitters
475 Elk Park Road
Columbia Falls,
Montana 59912
Toll Free: (800) 228-7806

*Montana Fishing License

*” South Fork Flathead River Info”
http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/
waterbodyDetail.html?llid=1140880483881

Fly Fishing Video”

Check out our fishing Video on You- Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubg_FJ_M1Hk
One of our guests, Mike Pryor put together this video of his group fishing the South Fork Flathead with us this past summer.

Kalispell, Montana

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"We had the best fishing and the deepest impressions in your camp." – Julie from Germany

FAQ’s

Here are a number of questions I have answered over the years. I hope you find them helpful.

1. Will there be fishing guides to help the inexperienced angler? No, but I have taken many guys who have never fly fished before and they have caught a lot of fish and had a wonderful time. First, the fish at Salmon Forks don’t see a lot of pressure, because not many people are willing to do what we do to get there. In short, the fish are hungry, aggressive, and not very picky. We use 4 or 5 patterns, but they’ll hit on almost anything. If you have not had a lot of experience, I would suggest you take a quick casting and knot tying workshop before you go. Orvis has a good one.

2. What kind of fishing will we be doing? Most of us use dry flies almost exclusively. Of course if you want to go after the big ones in the bottom of the pools, nymphs and woolly-boogers work well. We will be fishing for wild, west-slope cut-throat trout and bull trout. Most fish range from 10” to 18”. We always catch a few over 20” each year.(Of course, I suspect a lot of those are caught when nobody else is looking.) As I said above, most of us dry-fly fish the whole trip. We practice “catch and release” except for Friday, when we have a delicious fish fry.

3. Will my cell phone work? No. There is no cell phone reception. We discourage bringing satellite phones as it is smacks of civilization, which is what we are trying to get away from.

4. Do I have to worry about bears? There are bears in the “The Bob”. In our part of the park, they are still hunted, so they try to avoid humans. We have had only a few bears come into camp in over 24 years of outfitting. It’s good to know the basics about bear awareness, but we have never had a problem at the Salmon Forks camp site.

5. What if there is an emergency? You should know that there is no communication with the outside world, and the only way out is the same way you came in. (The forest service can land a helicopter in the area, if absolutely necessary, but it will take a few hours to notify them.) Janice is an emergency room nurse. We do have a satellite phone for emergency use.

6. What if I don’t want to fish everyday, all-day? Most of us bring a book or two to read. Mark and Janis will lead horse trips up to Salmon Lake or other areas, if you like. What ever you want to do to relax, you can do it. The first rule is, “there are no rules.”

7. How do I get from the airport in Kalispell to the outfitters? We provide a 15 passenger van. We’ll pick it up at the airport. and take you to the Diamond R Lodge. Saturday afternoon.

8. What is the weather like? The temp ranges from highs of 75-80 and lows in the 40’s. It can, and has gotten into the low 30’s at night. Bring a warm sleeping bag and some rain gear. Mark will send you a packing list.

9. What are the sleeping accommodations? We have two large outfitters tents with cots and foam mattresses for each person, also very nice dome tents Check out our photo page for pictures of the accommodations.

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