Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 02/25/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Gallatin River is fishing well right now. It’s open and fishable, but it hasn’t been easy. Cold nights are keeping mornings slow, and most of the action has been limited to a short stretch in the middle of the day.
Late morning into early afternoon has been the only time it’s felt worthwhile. Before that, it’s pretty quiet. If the sun’s out and the wind isn’t bad, anglers are seeing better results. When it’s windy, it gets difficult fast.
Nymphing has been the way to go. Pat’s rubberlegs with a zebra midge or small perdigon underneath has been a common setup. The biggest thing has been getting the flies down and keeping them there. When anglers add weight and slow things down, they’ve done better than when they keep switching flies.
There have been a few midges in the afternoons on calmer days, but dry fly fishing hasn’t been consistent enough to plan around.
Streamers haven’t done much in the cold water.
Right now it’s about timing and keeping things simple. Fish the middle of the day, focus on depth, and don’t expect it to feel like spring yet.
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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River shuttle services are an integral part of the Montana fly fishing scene as floating these legendary western rivers is the standard way to fish and experience them. Be sure...
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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