Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 02/19/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Gallatin River is not a great option right now. Conditions have been much tougher with the colder weather. Water temperatures have dropped, and fish are not going to be very active in these conditions.
Ice is starting to build along the edges, and slower sections are getting chunky, especially in the mornings. Floating ice has also been an issue during the coldest parts of the day, making it harder to fish effectively.
Even during the warmest part of the afternoon, activity has been limited. If you decide to get out, you’ll need to focus on deeper, slower water and keep expectations realistic. A simple nymph setup fished slow and deep would be the only practical approach, but it hasn’t been consistent.
With a slight warming trend expected next week, watching the weather is going to be the play for now. It likely makes more sense to wait for temperatures to rebound before putting serious time into the Gallatin.
Addtional Gallatin River Fly Fishing Resources:
- Gallatin River Fly Fishing In Winter
- Fly Fishing Bozeman In Winter
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Rainbow Spanish Bullet
Black Pat's Rubberleg
Purple Lite Brite Perdigon
Purple Psycho Prince
Pheasant Tail
Brown Pat's Rubberleg
Black Zebra Midge
Prince Nymph
Gallatin River Fishing
Read our "Gallatin River Fishing Guide" to learn more about fly fishing in Montana on the Gallatin River. It is a great resource for anglers fishing near Bozeman Montana and details the various river stretches and seasonal hatches with tips from our Bozeman fly fishing guides.
Additional Gallatin River Fly Fishing Resources
Montana River Shuttles
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Learn MoreMontana Fly Fishing Trip Photo Galleries
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Learn MoreGallatin River Guided Fly Fishing Trips
Post Date: 03/29/2025
Montana fly fishing trips on the Gallatin River with the team at Fins and Feathers Guide Service includes wading the canyon sections south of Bozeman and floating the lower river...
Learn MoreGallatin River Fly Fishing Area Map
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