Gallatin River Fishing Report

Date: 07/22/2026

Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

The Gallatin River is starting to come back into shape after last week's rain. There's still some color in the water, but visibility has improved enough that it's worth fishing again. The upper river through the canyon is in better shape than the lower stretches, and it should keep getting better if the weather stays dry.

A dry-dropper is the easiest way to cover water right now. Fish a purple or pink chubby with a pat's rubberlegs or orange/yellow flashy perdigon underneath. If you're not getting down, add weight before changing flies. The fish are there, but they're not going to move very far in the stained water.

There have been a few fish looking up, especially during the warmest part of the day when caddis start moving, but the nymph is still doing most of the work. If you start seeing steady rises, don't be afraid to fish a single dry through the riffles and pocket water.

The Gallatin isn't completely back to normal yet, but it's headed that way. Another couple of dry days should improve clarity even more, and the fishing should continue to get better. Until then, expect a little color, fish flies that are easy to see, and focus on covering plenty of water.

Addtional Gallatin River Fly Fishing Resources:

- The Best Bozeman Fly Fishing in July

Stream Flows

View stream flow graph on USGS

Recommended Flies