Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 12/18/2024
Posted by: Toby Swank
Looks like a solid weather window to finish the week on Montana’s Gallatin River. When it comes to winter fishing on the Gallatin, nymphing will be your bread and butter. On the perfect warm cloudy afternoon you could see a sporadic midge hatch. Spikes in temperature could also get some fish to commit to a small streamer.
When nymphing in the winter focus on the deep slow moving water. Set your indicator to 5’ and try fishing small stonefly nymphs like a Pat’s Rubber Leg, followed by a small Perdigon. Either super flashy like a Rainbow Warrior or dark colors seem to be the ticket. Make sure you're getting down quick, so either fish a beaded rubber leg or add some split shot a foot above your top fly.
If you run into a dry fly hatch try fishing a Griffith Gnat or a Peacock Cluster on a 9’ 4X leader. If the streamer game is calling your name keep your fly selection on the smaller side. Sculpzillas in black or olive slowly stripped in the deep runs can pick up a few fish.
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
322 CFS
On 2024-12-18
Red San Juan Worm
Brown/Black Pat's Rubberlegs
Rainbow Spanish Bullet
Natrual Sculpzilla
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.