Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 01/14/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Gallatin River continues to fish well and remains a solid option close to Bozeman. Conditions have been favorable, with open water throughout the canyon and into the valley. There’s been little ice to deal with, and access has been straightforward. Wind has been the biggest challenge day to day, but when it eases up, fishing has been best from late morning into the afternoon.
Nymphing has been the most reliable way to catch fish. Standard attractor patterns have been working well, especially rubberlegs and smaller stonefly-style nymphs paired with flies like spanish bullet perdigons, rainbow warriors, pheasant tails, or zebra midges. A 9-foot fluorocarbon leader of 3X or 4X has been a good setup for turning over weight and keeping flies down where fish are holding.
Streamer fishing has been worth mixing in at times, particularly when there’s cloud cover. Smaller streamer patterns have been moving fish in deeper water, though it hasn’t been as consistent as nymphing. A shorter leader of 5–6 feet of heavier fluorocarbon helps keep those setups manageable.
Dry fly activity has been limited, but midges are still around. On calmer stretches of the river, a few fish have been rising, and a small midge dry or emerger can pay off if you see surface activity.
Overall, the Gallatin River is in good shape right now. Focus on the warmer part of the day, expect wind to be part of the equation, and plan to spend most of your time nymphing for the most consistent results.
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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