Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 02/27/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Gallatin River has been fishing well. There’s plenty of open water and anglers are finding fish throughout the day. The main thing working against anglers lately has been the wind. When it’s calm, the river fishes noticeably better. When it’s blowing, it becomes harder to manage line and get clean drifts.
Late morning into early afternoon has been the most consistent stretch. Early mornings have been quieter, especially after colder nights. Once the sun has been on the water for a while, things improve.
Nymphing has been the primary approach. Pat’s rubberlegs with a zebra midge, wire worm, or small perdigon underneath has been a solid starting point. The biggest factor has been depth.
There have been midges in the afternoons, especially on calmer days. A few fish have come up, but it hasn’t been an all-day dry fly situation. It’s something anglers should watch for if conditions line up.
Streamer fishing has produced some fish, but it hasn’t been the dominant method. Slower presentations have worked better than aggressive strips.
Overall, the Gallatin River is in good shape. Plan around the middle of the day, pay attention to the wind, and focus on getting flies where they need to be.
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
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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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