South Fork Flathead River
Bearing large fish and spectacular scenery, the South Fork of the Flathead River makes an excellent fishing destination. The South Fork starts at the confluence of Danaher and Youngs Creeks of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Areas. The river flows north for several uninterrupted miles until it is met by the Hungry Horse Dam. Many anglers find the section of the river that lies above the Hungry Horse Reservoir to be a prime spot to fly fish for cutthroat trout. Montana Game and Fish imposed wilderness restrictions on most of this area resulting in large fish. Also, the river is difficult to access thus angler pressure is low and fish are eager to bite at anything.
All fish in the South Fork of the Flathead River are wild as the river is not stocked with hatchery fish. The South Fork is home to arctic grayling, bull trout, largescale sucker, mountain whitefish, pike minnow, sculpin, westslope cutthroat trout, and longnose sucker. The game fish opportunities include mountain whitefish and westslope cutthroat trout.
Anglers have found that any caddis fly or mayfly imitation to be successful. The river typically runs clear which means the fish can easily see you. Be careful not to scare them away. The South Fork is most hospitable to wade fisherman as it can be difficult to navigate a boat in its rough waters.
Access to the South Fork of the Flathead River is difficult. You can reach the river either by foot or on horseback. The closest you can get by car is by using the rugged West Reservoir Road that crosses the Hungry Horse Dam and winds around the reservoir. It is 50 miles from the dam to the trailhead at Meadow Creek Pack Bridge and it takes four hours to drive. The road is rough and rocky so make sure your tires and car are in good condition. Also keep in mind that there are no service stations along this road; plan accordingly. From the Meadow Creek Pack Bridge, you must hike a short distance to good fishing areas.
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