The Gallatin River is in great shape right now and continues to fish well. Cool mornings and clear flows are keeping trout active, and we have been seeing plenty of opportunities from the canyon down through the valley in the mornings. Up high, spruce moths are still fluttering around and offering some fun surface eats, while caddis and terrestrials are bringing fish up in the mornings and evenings.
Dry-dropper rigs have been the ticket in the canyon, with a chubby or small foam attractor on top paired with a nymph like a blowtorch, Spanish Bullet, or purple lite brite underneath. For those who enjoy throwing streamers, early and late in the day has been best, with small buggers or mini dungeons in olive and white.
Down lower in the valley, hopper-dropper rigs continue to shine, and a pats rubberleg trailed behind a hopper can be deadly. Trout are holding in softer pocket water. Keep in mind that hoot-owl restrictions are in effect from Amsterdam Road to the Missouri confluence, so plan on wrapping up by 2:00 PM if fishing lower in the valley. Overall, the Gallatin is fishing consistently, and with the right mix of hoppers, moths, and droppers, it’s a great time to be on the water.
Spruce Moth Almighty
Chubby Chernobyl Pteronarcys
Purple Blowtorch
Black Pat's Rubberleg
Spanish Bullet Tan
Royal Chubby Chernobyl
Tan Fat Head Moth
Purple Lite Brite Perdigon
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.
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