Gallatin River Fishing Report

Date: 09/14/2026

Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

The Gallatin River is a good option for some solid September fishing. Cooler nights have dropped water temperatures, the river is clear, and fish have been active throughout the canyon and into the valley. The best dry fly fishing has been during the warmer part of the afternoon, while the overcast, windy days have made nymphing and streamer fishing more productive.

If the wind is manageable, fish a hopper, ant, or small attractor dry and keep moving until you find active fish. When the surface bite slows, a beadhead pat's rubberlegs with a size 16–18 black or olive Spanish bullet has been a dependable setup. Streamers have also been worth fishing, especially in the Gallatin Valley where brown trout are starting to become more aggressive.

The Gallatin is one of the better choices around Bozeman right now. With the summer crowds thinning out and cooler weather settling in, anglers willing to cover water are finding consistent fishing throughout the river.

Addtional Gallatin River Fly Fishing Resources:

- September Fishing

Stream Flows

View stream flow graph on USGS

Recommended Flies