The only thing better than a day spent on the Flathead River is — you guessed it — multiple days spent on the river.
Glacier Anglers & Outfitters offers multi-day trips that will wow first-time anglers and seasoned trout slayers alike. Here’s what you can expect from an overnight adventure with a fly fishing outfitter who knows the Flathead River like the back of their hand.
Multi-day fishing trips are available on both the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Both forks offer the same crystal clear, glacier-fed waters with excellent fishing conditions. And because Glacier National Park, the Flathead National Forest and the Great Bear Wilderness surround the Flathead River, scenic beauty and resident wildlife abound. Here is the breakdown of all three options:
North Fork: The North Fork is known for its calm and quiet waters with just a few whitewater sections that peak in early June and wash out by mid-August. Originating in Canada and flowing into Montana, the North Fork carves out the western border of Glacier National Park. In this serene wilderness, guests commonly spot bald eagles, osprey, black bears, grizzly bears, moose, elk and deer. And that’s just above the crystalline waters — fish are plentiful below the surface, making the North Fork a dry fly paradise. Multi-day trips on the North Fork can be booked for either two or three days.
Middle Fork: The Middle Fork is known as the beating heart of the Flathead River and offers exciting class II-IV whitewater. Most rapids sections peak mid-summer, meaning warm weather adventurers on this stretch are as likely to be whitewater rafters as they are to be anglers. Custom trips are geared for both disciplines, so there’s no need to limit your options. Expeditions on this exciting stretch can be customized between two and four days — just gauge your level of adventure and book it to the max.
Great Bear Wilderness: The Upper Middle Fork is the most remote of all three destinations and is as unspoiled as it gets. This stretch runs through the heart of the Great Bear Wilderness corridor which connects over 3 million acres of protected wilderness. Guided trips here are only accessible by plane or by foot, and Glacier Anglers & Outfitters is the exclusive Montana river outfitter with permitted access. This one-size-fits-all five-day excursion is sure to be the trip of a lifetime.
Glacier Anglers & Outfitters has been guiding on the Flathead River for almost 50 years and it shows. Multi-day trips are guided by the best of the best, and their knowledge will delight you in ways you never thought possible in the great outdoors. As you sleep under the stars, eat lavishly and soak up the sights and sounds of untamed wilderness, our guides will impress you with their river expertise, their angling acumen and their backcountry hospitality.
If you’re picturing trail mix and PB&Js, stop right there. You’ll be giving your guide a five-star review after you dine on a steak, salmon, Dutch-oven lasagna or other over-the-fire creations. And be sure to save room for dessert!
Guided overnight guests are treated to a truly spectacular experience complete with top-of-the-line river-grade camping equipment. No need to bring your own tents, dry bags, sleeping bags or pads — camping gear, river equipment and meals are all included. You can bring your own fishing equipment or use ours; either way, our guides will show you where the fish are and the crowds aren’t.
Other than personal items and clothing, the only essential not included in multi-day trips is your fishing license, so make sure you purchase one ahead of time. Licenses are available at Paddle Ridge or online at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website.
Booking a multi-day trip allows you to sit back and relax while all the logistics of transportation, camping and meals are taken care of. As a result, you’ll have all the time in the world to enjoy your float and fish in this designated Wild and Scenic River System.
All multi-day trips are customized with one guide and two guests per boat, so you and a friend will have undivided attention as you perfect your technique in these catch-and-release waters. While you'll cast for a variety of fish species, none are quite as synonymous with Montana and the Flathead River as the native and wild westslope cutthroat trout. These beautiful, bucket-list fish are plentiful in the river, and our guides are experts in reeling them in.
A day trip sure is fun, but a multi-day trip is next level. Call us today at 1.406.888.5454 and find out what it’s like to float, fish and camp on river time.
