Middle Fork Feather River Rafting
Packraft Fly Fishing
Packraft Fly Fishing is the Ultimate Backcountry Fishing Tool!
Packrafts are small, lightweight, and easy to transport, deploy, and maneuver. They allow you to access water you usually would not consider or dream of. The most rugged packrafts fold up to about the size of a backpack and weigh in around 15-20 pounds. They inflate in min and are ready to hike into remote areas or simply push off from traditional access locations.
I have been fly fishing remote backcountry waters for over a decade now. Getting myself into some pretty tricky spots, all on foot. Time after time, I ran into places where I could no longer hike or wade across the river….I kept pushing and thinking there had to be a better way to get into these waters and boom, I was introduced to a packraft!
On my first trip, I was blown away by how easy it was to simply cross a river and explore the other side. I dragged my boat upriver, around whitewater I did not know how to navigate, and into places that opened my eyes and opportunities.
For the last two years, I have been guiding on packrafts and saw how quickly my clients LOVED the experience! Now we can reach and navigate entirely new sections of the river that would just not be feasible, maximizing your fun factor on the water and putting more fish in the net! From easy floats to more complex backcountry adventures Packraft Fly Fishing is one of my favorite activities! It is hands-on, exciting, and will put a smile on your face!
Float the Middle Fork Feather River
Wild and Scenic - Natural Beauty
Catch More Fish
Get stoked!
Matt is an avid Backcountry Traveler, Wilderness First Responder, and schooled River Rafting Guide.
We are licensed, insured, and permitted to use Forest Service Lands for all of our river trips!
Our river trips are from Clio to Nelson Point on the Middle Fork Feather River. This covers roughly 18 miles of The Wild and Scenic section of the river and is stunning! For the most part, the river runs as a Class I and Class II whitewater river making it very safe and easy to learn the ropes.
Our Upper Section Trips from Clio to Graeagle are beginner-friendly and are appropriate for those who do not have any prior paddling experience. This float is approximately 3 miles long and features mellow flows and a few fun class I rapids. This float can be done in a half day or a stop-and-relax full day. Great scenery and a perfect fun day on the water!
Our Middle Section Trips are from Cromberg to Sloat and feature the perfect balance of fun exciting rapids, great fishing, and a backcountry feel. These trips are designed for those looking for a bit more of a challenge which is well worth the effort! This run is about 3 miles long and is done in a full day as the fishing is more than enough to keep you busy! The flows in the middle section are a little more lively featuring Class I-II depending on the time of year a few Class III spots that can easily be walked for safety.
Our Lower Section Trips are from Sloat to Nelson Point and are considered advanced! The river enters a very remote box canyon and access is limited only to raft or helicopter! The last few miles feature one Forest Service Road for access but otherwise, this section is truly “Wild and Scenic”. Floating and fishing this section of the Middle Fork Feather is truly an amazing experience. The float is about 6 miles in length and is best broken down into 2 days with an overnight on the river. You can float the full run in one day but you will miss out on optimal experience as we will have to make time for paddling and spend less time fishing! This section of the river is considered an advanced paddle and you should be in good physical shape and be ready for an ADVENTURE! There are dangerous rapids, hazards and due to the remote location safety is of the utmost importance. Running this section of the river is only at the discretion of Matt and when the flows are safe to do so. The river is mostly a Class II section but there are a few Class III rapids and depending on the flows and what river guide you reference, two Class IV Rapids. Like the middle section, the harder rapids can be easily walked with the exception of one which is generally an easy Class II follow the “V” run.
This section is truly a backcountry rafting and fly fishing experience and is our favorite place on the Wild and Scenic Middle Fork Feather River!
Matt's backcountry float trips are truly a unique experience. My daughter Nikki and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip down the canyon with its solitude and beautiful wild rainbows. With his coaching Nikki was able to get 2 doubles on the nymph rig. Thanks Matt, we'll be back!
Gallen Bullock
We proudly use Kokopeli Recon and XPD Packrafts on our trips. We are also a Guide | Outfitter for Kokopeli Products. If you are interested in learning more give us a call or check out their website.
