2025 SPRING RIVER ROUNDUP

Written By Sheena Pate

Spring is here on the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River and on cue the first day of season was marked with snow and rain showers. Spring is a perfect time to start trip planning, join or sign-up for river volunteer trainings and river cleanup events, attend our 2025 Spring River Safety Workshop and/or participate in a Flathead-based or local to you river skills trainings. We’ve pulled together a quick reference guide to get you started!

TRIP PLANNING HUB

Head over to Flathead Rivers Alliance’s (FRA) one-stop know before you go River Alerts, Gear, Trip Planning Tips, Outfitters, & Resources Trip Planning Hub for the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River. Trip planning hub offers a comprehensive list of resources, required/recommended gear, licenses/permits, contacts for planning personal and/or outfitted river trips and so much more.

Flathead Rivers Alliance sends out weekly river and weather forecasts April through September annually. Subscribe to Flathead Rivers Alliance’s e-newsletter to automatically receive these forecasts for free.

Photo courtesy: Lee Cohen

FISHING

The Flathead Wild & Scenic River has exceptionally pure, clear, and clean water. The relatively undisturbed and undammed North, South & Middle Forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River are known for their native fish populations internationally, nationally, and regionally. Flathead River system is one of the last strongholds for the native westslope cutthroat trout. MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries biologists have led some of the largest conservation projects in the country aimed at restoring native westslope cutthroat trout, on the three forks of the Flathead River. The river system is also home to the endangered native Bull Trout.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP) Fishing License: A valid fishing license enables you to fish from March 1 through the end of February of the following year.

NEW Bull Trout Rules & Regulations
Fall 2024, Motana FWP fisheries crews tallied the lowest bull trout population counts in the South Fork Flathead River since 1993 — the second consecutive year that they tracked dramatic declines in the number of spawning nests in what has historically been a stronghold for the native trout species — fisheries managers tasked with bull trout recovery proposed changes to 2025 fishing regulations to reduce pressure on fish to Fish and Wildlife Commission and those were approved during Nov. 12 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. For full story: https://flatheadbeacon.com/2024/11/14/as-montana-adopts-new-fishing-regulations-wild-trout-rise-up-as-conservation-priority/

VOLUNTEER & SKILLS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

FLATHEAD WILD & SCENIC RIVER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Flathead Rivers Alliance hosts over 300 volunteers who donate over 1,750 hours, on a 219-mile+ river system with which can see over 100,000 river users annually. Our impact is not possible without our amazing river community! Join Team River and help safeguard the future of the Flathead River system together!

APRIL 15, 2025: 2025 River Ambassador Classroom Training w/ FRA & Agency Partners (River Access Volunteers)
Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) is ramping up for the river season and recruiting 30-40 volunteer team members! Are you passionate about the river system that inspired a national protected Wild and Scenic River system? We’re expanding our River Ambassador program – join us to make a difference and give back to the river you love!

APRIL 26, 2025: 2025 Earth Day River Access Cleanup
Flathead Rivers Alliance and Wild Montana’s Flathead-Kootenai Chapter are teaming up to celebrate Earth Day. Join us on Saturday, April 26, 2025 to clean up several fishing access sites along the Flathead Wild & Scenic River. Pre-registration required. *Registration opens March 26, 2025

APRIL 29, 2025: 2025 River Recreation Monitoring/Citizen Scientist Classroom Training w/ FRA & Agency Partners (Floating Volunteers)
Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) is ramping up for the 2024 river season and recruiting 20+ volunteer team members! Are you passionate about the river system that inspired a national protected Wild and Scenic River system? We’re expanding our River Recreation Monitoring/Citizen Scientist program – join us to make a difference and give back to the river you love!

MAY 7, 2025: 2025 Citizen Science- Water Quality Monitoring Training
Flathead Rivers Alliance seeks volunteers to help with water quality monitoring efforts on the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River. We all seek a better understanding of impacts that an increase in river users, population, and changing climate trends will have on the river corridor.

JUNE 21, 2025: Rafting for Refuse
Celebrate Glacier Guides & Montana Raft’s 28th Anniversary of R4R with trash clean up and post float event! Rafting for Refuse requires a $10 donation that will go to Leave No Trace- Center for Outdoor Ethics.

SAVE THE DATES

JUNE 27, 2025: River Weed Pull Rodeo
During River Weed Rodeo private volunteers combine with commercial rafting outfitters, government organizations, non-profits and local businesses to hand pull weeds along the beautiful Middle Fork of the Flathead River corridor.

AUGUST 9, 2025: Flathead Waters Cleanup
Flathead Waters Cleanup is an annual Flathead Basin wide event bringing together agencies, organizations, and community members in an all-day volunteer event to clean-up trash and celebrate the region’s incredible waterways. Flathead Rivers Alliance is responsible for coordinating volunteers on the three forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River.

SEASON KICK-OFF EVENT

MAY 2, 2025: 2025 Paddling Film Festival
Flathead Rivers Alliance and Montana Kayak Academy co-present the 20th annual Paddling Film Festival at O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish, MT on Friday, May 2nd, 2025 7:00-9:00 PM.

RIVER SKILLS & SAFETY WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS

FLATHEAD AREA TRAINING RESOURCES

MAY 14, 2025: 2025 SPRING RIVER SAFETY WORKSHOP
Spring river conditions are here! Flathead Rivers Alliance hosts Spring River Safety Workshop with industry experts Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 from 6-8 PM at Sacred Waters Brewing Company.

Sheena Pate
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Flathead Rivers Under Freeze