makes daily excursions into the Frank Church from two different airports McCall and Challis, Idaho. The rattle stops and the snake slides off, downstream thankfully the opposite way from where were heading. Flight from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Orlando. There will be a full refund for any trips canceled by the outfitter. Read Next: Alaskan Woman Shoots Record Caribou on Solo Hunt 4 Months After Bear Attack. Thankfully, there are no luggage fees for flying into the Frank Church wilderness from McCall, Idaho. Thousands of entries and twenty-one days later, we announced the winner of the Filson Expereince the Wild Contest: Jim Hubert. Copyright 2023 Free Range American. The undisrupted nature of the water and country, and the lack of fishing pressure, makes wild cutthroats rather naive to the presence of some 6-foot-tall things walking in their river and the reality of artificial flies. Anxiously awaiting the planes arrival, we discovered why this particular strip was named Soldier Bar. At the very edge of the runway stood a stark white stone monument, perhaps 10 feet in height, with a bronze plaque embedded in the front. Im the first one geared up. I have flown with them dozens of times. Sat 5/27. Not . Any idea what a ballpark price is for one way into one of the strips? There is also a grocery store across the street. I haven't heard about fires this year but from what I understand frank church has gotten pretty smashed by wolves lately. Our hunting concession consists of approximately 300 square miles (Unit 27) of pristine game rich back country on the wild and scenic Middle Fork of the Salmon River. In the case of cancellation by the client, both deposit and final payment may be transferred to another guest or angler for those same (original) dates if facilitated and arranged by the client. The wheels contacted the ground, and I was shocked by how smooth the touchdown and taxi to the end of the runway felt. Sometimes we spend the better part of a week on location, waiting for conditions to improve. This airstrip is one of a small handful located in the Frank Church Wilderness. We snacked on bacon as we situated our gear in our temporary living quarters, soaked in the magnitude of the moment, and in keeping with the song Whiskey for Breakfast, popped open a bourbon bottle. But its hard to figure out pricing until we know how many people are flying, what sort of gear you have, and which strips you want to get in and out of. August 14 19 (full), 2024 Trip Dates After taking out after your week on the Middle Fork, you are about six hours from Boise. has been guiding hunters and anglers in the Franks Middle Fork Elk Zone for decades and offers guests a variety of hunting and fishing options, from fully guided trips to barebones tents-and-chow packages, like we did here. . Our third day on the river, just after lunch, the guides began loading the horses and pack animals for the return trip. You can click here to request a quoteor contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. You need a permit to raft the Middle Fork, and from May 28 until September 3rd the permits are issued through a highly coveted lottery. Idaho Jet Boat Tours Salmon River River of No Return Wilderness Taking in the dramatic scenery is always appreciated by anglers and non-anglers alike. There are other boaters on the river, but most people that float this river are white water enthusiasts, so the fish are always rested and experience very little pressure overall. July 5 10 (full) Other destination airports that are also options for renting a car and driving include Idaho Falls, Idaho (3.5 hours), Missoula, Montana (5 hours), or Bozeman, Montana (6 hours). If you have timing constrictions that you are worried about, give us a call and well work on a solution. $3,750.00 per person (based on at least 2 anglers), 2023 Trip Dates Aboard the airplane, our pilot throttles up the engine and lifts just high enough that we can make out details like individual rocks and logs in the river places where we caught so many fish before crossing a distant ridge and aiming the nose homeward. Food and Beverages Thread starter . Between the rugged landscapes, wildflowers, bighorn sheep, deer, river otters, and the occasional mountain goats, the photography opportunities are endless. His eyes were out the windows or fixed on his smartphone mounted above the stick. Glancing out the window, I shouted to my companion Good Lord, I hope our pilot doesnt plan on landingthere.. We intersect with a group of hiking/camping anglers venturing up from downstream who say the presence of salmon makes things tough. I said to myself. I try to avoid thinking about the principles of airline flight: a long metal tube with huge mini-rockets riveted under flimsy-looking wings that propel me (and hundreds of others) on an arcing trajectory that can suffer little variance. ACH online payments (for US banking institutions only). It rockets within 10 feet of my fly, then five, then two. Sample Itinerary Usually a pack string will make enough noise so that we wont surprise Old Bruin. Lets see yours? Carving its way directly through the center of this wilderness area is the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The best fly fishing trip Ive ever taken. The Sheep Eater Native American tribes were indigenous to this territory and were one of the last wild, free-roaming tribes to capitulate to the military. This is a traditional "mountain man" style, horseback elk hunt in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Idahos Frank Church Wilderness area and the Sawtooth Mountains are certainly one of the most secluded and rugged regions in the lower 48. We are tired, a little sunburned and dehydrated, and smell like trout and sweat-soaked saddle leather but we are content. I dont know what they were, but they were bigger than anything Ive seen!. If weather is bad, we generally just wait for the next good window, and take you in or out then. Look at this!. I cast again. Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for this trip. The only problem with a trip to Big Creek in the Frank Church is having to go home. A 4 or 5-weight rod with a floating line is absolutely perfect for the river. The outfitter does carry a satellite phone for emergencies. The wilderness has a long rifle season stretching from Sept. 15- Nov. 18 for elk, deer, bear lion and wolf. This call is typically made well in advance of the launch. Flying into McCall, I catch a glimpse of our cabin roof far out on the edge of the tree line, just a stones throw from the North Fork of the Payette River. This avoids the large rapids at the top of the river. Typically, casting a large dry fly along the bank will produce fish. Were flying east, and the rising sun would normally be blinding, but with all this smoke in the air, I can almost fly without sunglasses.. Jun 27, 2016. Pistol Creek Outfitters | Home I cant wait to book my next one! Michele W. 1 adult. If someone were to tell me wed landed on pavement, Id believe them. Cocktail ice and plenty of cooler space are provided as well. The river was restricted to flies and lures and catch-and-release, but together we had released probably no more than a dozen native trout. You will need to arrive in Stanley, Idaho the night prior to your launch date. Frank Church Wilderness Mule Deer Hunting - Outdoors International And this is a good morning. I spent many days in there guiding where we didnt see a thing, and I knew the entire drainage i hunted very well from living in it from August through November for 3 years. The backcountry staple. Dinner and drinks at the Mountain Village Resort or the Casino Club (not included in the package). At least we hope., Most of our worries will come from the hornets, which sometimes nest on the ground. Boundary Creek is a great place to start your wilderness fishing adventures. Great for moving 3-4 hunters, depending on weights and gear. Frank Church Wilderness Idaho Mule deer Hunt, Fly in DIY hunting in the River of no return Wilderness. Can carry up to 1,700lbs into the backcountry. Please note that all deposits and trip payments are non-refundable, and upon cancellation, payments will be forfeited, and no refund or trip credit will be issued. An exquisite Western getaway on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, The Middle Fork Lodge's 80 private acres are nestled inside Idaho's Frank Church Wilderness, the largest contiguous area of protected wilderness - 2.3 million acres -- in the continental United States. Flying into Idaho's Frank Church Wilderness - YouTube 416. Expensivegrab a map and some gear and walk in Any word on if the recent fires have severely impacted things? Full day of fishing and camping on the Middle Fork of the Salmon! Most of us interested in the outdoors have signal activities: those pursuits that so engage, so immerse us that our participation becomes obsessive, addictive, consuming. It would be a harrowing 60-mile trek in late November, through the most unforgiving country in the West. The rooms are around $100.00 for double occupancy (not included in the package). Ive watched you on television fishing shows, I said, and you never seem to have an off-day. . In fact, one of the guides personally built three of the beautiful wooden boats you will be fishing from during your trip. A bus will be waiting for the group with fresh pizza for lunch. There are also a couple of hot springs along the way that offers a chance for a hot wilderness shower or bath. In the event that a flight is needed to get to the launch site, there is an additional charge of $120.00 per person. While we reserve the right to remove or modify comments at our sole discretion, the Sportsman's Guide does not bear any responsibility for user comments.