Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 12/01/2025
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Gallatin River has been fishing well, with ice shelves forming and the best fishing happening once things warm up around noon. By midday the river opens up enough to fish comfortably through the canyon and into the valley.
Nymphing is the focus this time of year. Stonefly patterns, small perdigons like the spanish bullet or blowtorch, zebra midges, and classic attractor nymphs have all been working in the deeper, slower water. A 9-foot fluorocarbon leader of 4X is a simple setup, running 5X fluoro to the dropper to keep things natural in the clear water. The faster stretches of the river aren’t producing much right now, so it’s best to stick to the softer pockets and deeper runs.
Ice along the banks makes wading a bit more limited. You don’t need long drifts, just shorter long drifts close to the bottom. The fish aren’t chasing much in this colder weather.
There’s very little dry-fly activity this time of year, but carrying a few small midges isn’t a bad idea in case you find a brief window of rising trout. It’s rare, but it does happen on calmer afternoons.
The Gallatin is still a great option around Bozeman for anglers willing to bundle up. Stick with nymphs, avoid the fast water, and focus on the deeper edges that stay open through the winter.
Addtional Gallatin River Fly Fishing Resources:
- Gallatin River Fly Fishing In Winter
- Fly Fishing Bozeman In Winter
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Black Zebra Midge
Rainbow Spanish Bullet
Black Pat's Rubberleg
Purple Lite Brite Perdigon
Brown Pat's Rubberleg
Pheasant Tail
Prince Nymph
Purple Psycho Prince
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...
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