Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 01/21/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Gallatin River has been a little tougher this week with colder weather settling in, but it’s still fishable if you time it right. Early mornings have been slow, and ice has been showing up at times, but once things start to thaw mid-day the river has been offering some opportunities. Getting out around noon and paying attention to ice conditions has made a noticeable difference.
Nymphing has been the best way to catch fish. Attractor-style nymphs have continued to produce, with stonefly-style patterns fished up front and smaller nymphs like perdigons, pheasant tails, and zebra midges trailing behind. A 9-foot fluorocarbon leader of 3X or 4X has been a good all-around setup. Fishing slower water has been more effective than trying to force fish out of faster sections right now.
Streamer fishing has been limited, but it can still be worth a few casts when conditions line up. Smaller streamer patterns have moved an occasional fish, though results have been inconsistent compared to nymphing. Keeping the setup simple with a shorter leader of heavier fluorocarbon has been the easiest way to approach it.
Dry fly fishing has been very limited. Midges are around, but surface activity has been brief and easy to miss. If you see fish rising, a small midge dry or emerger can work, but subsurface fishing has been far more reliable.
Overall, the Gallatin River is still an option, but patience and timing matter right now. Waiting for ice to clear, focusing on the middle of the day, and fishing slower water with nymphs has been the best approach for finding fish.
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...
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