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Gallatin River Fishing Report

Date: 05/26/2026
Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

The Gallatin River has bumped in flows again with the warmer weekend weather. Fishing has still been solid but the raise in flows and change in clarity will push fish tighter to the banks again.

Fishing a 9-foot 4x leader with a tandem nymph rig has been the ticket. Brown or black rubberlegs up top followed by a hare’s ear blowtorch, caddis pupa, or smaller perdigon attractor nymph in size 16 has been getting it done. One BB split shot has been enough to get flies down well with the slightly higher flows and faster water.

Streamer fishing has also been worth doing. Fish have been willing to move off the banks for smaller patterns, especially through the canyon water. Smaller black double gangas and olive mini dungeons have both been fishing well.

There have not been many bugs throughout most of the canyon stretch yet, so most of the consistency has still been below the surface. Fishing through the valley sections has been good as well.

Addtional Gallatin River Fly Fishing Resources:

Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide To May

Stream Flows

Gallatin River Fishing Report Streamflow

Flows

Recommended Flies

				  Pats rubberleg bronw

Brown Pat's Rubberleg

				  Flashback Pheasant Tail TNG G Bd PT

Pheasant Tail

				  Jiggy Caddis Pupa Mercer Amber14 064

Amber Jiggy Caddis Pupa

				  Rainbow spanish bullet

Rainbow Spanish Bullet

				  Great attractor pattern when fishing Yellowstone River in Montana.

Purple Psycho Prince

				  Prince Nymph

Prince Nymph

				  Use a Pats' Rubberleg for Madison River fishing in high-water.

Black Pat's Rubberleg

				  Purple lite brite perdigon nymph

Purple Lite Brite Perdigon

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

Post Date: 03/29/2025

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 More

Montana Fly Fishing Trip Photo Galleries

Post Date: 03/29/2025

Get a glimpse into a day of guided fly fishing in Montana from the viewpoint of the guides and guests with Bozeman fly fishing outfitter, Fins and Feathers Guide Service...

Learn More

Gallatin 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 More

Gallatin River Fly Fishing Area Map



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