Going to Glacier and need advice

[neilsom]

I am going to Glacier National Park 3 weeks from today. I am going to dust off my fly gear that hasn't been used in almost 10 years since I moved from LaGrande and stopped fishing the powder.

I am looking on advice on campgrounds with easy access to fishing. patterns for that area. I have little experience tying so I will purchase what I will use.

I will have my wife and 2 year old with me but I will be able to fish. My wife likes to watch and make some attempts. I also need to set an example for my 2 year old.

thank in advance.

Mitch

[cphatts]

Fish Creek inside the park is a decent camground and is easily assessible from West Glacier. Like Oregon, Montana has an extremely heavy snow pack this year so I am not sure which rivers will be fishable in 3 weeks. Normally I would recommend the middle and north forks of the Flathead or McDonald Creek (inside the park) but this year it will be anyones guess.

[neilsom]

thanks. that is what I was afraid of. I will take my stuff and see what I can find.



Fish Creek inside the park is a decent camground and is easily assessible from West Glacier. Like Oregon, Montana has an extremely heavy snow pack this year so I am not sure which rivers will be fishable in 3 weeks. Normally I would recommend the middle and north forks of the Flathead or McDonald Creek (inside the park) but this year it will be anyones guess.

[Herm]

my wife and I made a short hike to a lake out of campgroud in the park. using caddis dry flies, i caught a fish on every cast for the cutts were fighting over my fly. post a map or something and Im sure I will be able to find the lake for you

[Incredible_Bulk]

I don't know if you saw what I posted in the other thread, but Avalanche Lake has some Cutthroat in it, and can be fly fished. It's about a 2 mile walk in, easy terrain, breathtaking views, and the trailhead is right at Avalanche Creek Campground which was a nice place to stay.

Cheers,
Bulk

[cphatts]

I would call one of the fly shops in Whitefish or call the fly shop inside Glacier Raft Company in West Glacier...they should be able to give you the low down on the river levels.

[Jeremy]

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=199545

[Newbs]

I took a trip to Glacier a few years ago with my brother. It was one of my best trips ever. We took a train from Seattle to the south park entrance. We got off the train and took a bus shuttle to MacDonald lodge. The lodge is on the north end of Lake MacDonald. That's about 25 miles into the park. From the lodge we hiked into the back country to the west of the lake. We fished small lakes and streams and had a great time.

There are lots of small streams around the lake and within hiking distance to the lodge for fishing. We took a bus tour over the "highway to the sun" from the lodge that was very cool.

There is a boat tour from the lodge that was also fun. A large paddle boat that rides up and down the lake.

The lodge has an amazing taxidermy display. Mostly animals that were hunted in the area in the early 1900's.

Over all it's a great place to visit with lots of wildlife a geology. Watch out for the bears... There are lots of bears... Mostly in the back country. I did not like the bears... There was a bear attack close to our camp and we had to pack up (quickly) and move to a different area. The park service keeps very close track of any bear contact. Any time there is contact with a bear, the area is closed down to all people and everyone has to move to a new section of the park.

You should plan that when you are camping in bear country there are lots of "things" in the night that sound like bears. We camped in an area that supported a large elk herd. Elk grunting and bugelling in the night sound just like bears growling and howling. The closer they are to your tent...the more they sound just like bears. Trust me on this one...

If I were going to do the trip again I would do it the same way we did before on the train, but I think I would get off the train in White Fish and rent a car, then car camp in the camp grounds in the park.

[neilsom]

That sounds like the trip I want to do with my son when he is older. He turns 2 in a couple weeks so that is a ways off.

Thanks for the info.

Mitch

I took a trip to Glacier a few years ago with my brother. It was one of my best trips ever. We took a train from Seattle to the south park entrance. We got off the train and took a bus shuttle to MacDonald lodge. The lodge is on the north end of Lake MacDonald. That's about 25 miles into the park. From the lodge we hiked into the back country to the west of the lake. We fished small lakes and streams and had a great time.

There are lots of small streams around the lake and within hiking distance to the lodge for fishing. We took a bus tour over the "highway to the sun" from the lodge that was very cool.

There is a boat tour from the lodge that was also fun. A large paddle boat that rides up and down the lake.

The lodge has an amazing taxidermy display. Mostly animals that were hunted in the area in the early 1900's.

Over all it's a great place to visit with lots of wildlife a geology. Watch out for the bears... There are lots of bears... Mostly in the back country. I did not like the bears... There was a bear attack close to our camp and we had to pack up (quickly) and move to a different area. The park service keeps very close track of any bear contact. Any time there is contact with a bear, the area is closed down to all people and everyone has to move to a new section of the park.

You should plan that when you are camping in bear country there are lots of "things" in the night that sound like bears. We camped in an area that supported a large elk herd. Elk grunting and bugelling in the night sound just like bears growling and howling. The closer they are to your tent...the more they sound just like bears. Trust me on this one...

If I were going to do the trip again I would do it the same way we did before on the train, but I think I would get off the train in White Fish and rent a car, then car camp in the camp grounds in the park.

[nookslayer]

Beautiful place and well worth the trip. You may have trouble with "going to the sun road" as it most likely is still under snow pack. There are a bunch of lakes from the South lodge on your way that looked really fishy to me (didn't have my gear when I went).
A little factoid... the interior of the South Lodge is actually where "The Shinning" was filmed. Timberline Lodge was only used for the exterior shots. When you go check out the haunted rooms...
Good luck and report when you get back

[007SPRIG]

Don't know the route you're taking but the Clark Fork in the St. Regis area should be pretty darn good.

[neilsom]

We are going up through spokane. My family has a reunion at Priest Lake. I think I will rent a boat and troll for Mackinaw.

Then it is off to Glacier for a few days. I think we are going to start out at Avalanche as suggested and play it from there. We will have our 2 year old with us so I don't know how much fishing I will get in. It will be his first camping trip. I will report regardless.

I have to say that the snow pack is great but I am a bit dissappointed that I may not be able to drive the road.

This whole Global Warming political hoax must be true.

Don't know the route you're taking but the Clark Fork in the St. Regis area should be pretty darn good.

[Jeremy]

clearing the road each year is a big event you can follow the progress here:

http://www.nps.gov/glac/

scroll down to going to the sun road for an updated map of where the plows are and pictures, looks like they are getting close

[Herm]

We are going up through spokane. My family has a reunion at Priest Lake. I think I will rent a boat and troll for Mackinaw.

Then it is off to Glacier for a few days. I think we are going to start out at Avalanche as suggested and play it from there. We will have our 2 year old with us so I don't know how much fishing I will get in. It will be his first camping trip. I will report regardless.

I have to say that the snow pack is great but I am a bit dissappointed that I may not be able to drive the road.

This whole Global Warming political hoax must be true.

Avalanche lake is where I caught all those cutts on dry flys. Right when the trailhead reaches the lake, there is a log jam on the left that will get you to the other side of the lake where there is no pressure. may not be the best for the wife and kid, but if you can sneak away alone for a few hours it will be worth it!

[quackpipe]

Bear spray is not applied like bug spray. Spray it at the bears not on your children to prevent bites.

[Newbs]

Bear spray is not applied like bug spray. Spray it at the bears not on your children to prevent bites.

Dear Lord..I hope that is dry humor...