Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 07/25/2024
Posted by: Toby Swank
Summer heat and low flows have the Gallatin River fishing slowing down in the Gallatin Valley sections. The Gallatin Canyon and Yellowstone National Park stretches, however, continue to fish well in the mornings and evenings.
Expect heavy angling pressure and busy water activity with rafters during the mid-day hours.
Summer dry fly fishing on the Gallatin River is most effective with long leaders, fine tippets (4X-6X), and small attractor dry patterns. Fish hold near the mid-river boulders and along "defined" seams right now, so drag-free drifts and accurate presentations are more important than fly choice.
Evening spinnner falls reliably bring a few fish to the surface near dusk and Spriuce Moths are starting to show up too.
Hoppers are around and we are seeing some success with various hopper presentations through fast runs and pocket-water.
Try hopper/dropper rigs with small perdigon-style flies later in the day to cover pocket water and deep runs.
The lower river has dropped considerably in the last week with portions now being under "Hoot Owl" regulations. Vist FWP's website to stay up to speed with current restrictions and closures.
You can get an idea of the water conditions in the Big Sky area by viewing this webcam, hosted by our friends at Montana Whitewater.
Click to enlarge
Flows
USGS CFS Data is not available for this date.
Purple Lite Brite Perdigon
Tan Fat Head Moth
Red Missing Link
Royal Trude
Montana fly fishing trips on the Gallatin River with the team at Fins and Feathers Guide Service focus on the lower stretches. Floating the lower Gallatin River offers access to blue-ribbon trout waters that receive much less angling pressure than the upper river. Hazardous obstructions in the river are constantly shifting, making floating here more challenging than other rivers near Bozeman.
Trophy Rainbow and Brown Trout are here for the experienced angler willing to streamer fly fish during early summer days. Novice anglers quickly improve their skills as our guides patiently coach them through the intricacies of reading water and fishing near structures on this wild stretch of river.
- $695 for 1 or 2 Anglers Per Guide
- Float Trips With Wading Opportunities
- Use of All Fishing Equipment Is Included
- Single And Multi-Day Trip Bookings Available
- Meet In Bozeman, Four-Corners, Belgrade, or Manhattan
- Book Online or Contact Us To Learn More
Gallatin River Fishing
The Gallatin River starts small in YNP and becomes a medium-sized western river below Big Sky, Montana. It flows through Gallatin Canyon with swift pockets and fast runs. The river is known for its clean, cold water and offers over 75 miles of blue-ribbon trout water accessible at turnouts along HWY 191 and throughout the Gallatin Valley. The Gallatin River joins the Jefferson and Madison Rivers to form the Missouri River near Three Forks, Montana.
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.