September 28, 2023 Gallatin River Fishing Report
Date: 09/28/2023
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The river continues to slowly drop and has cleared up nicely the last few days. Streamer fishing in the Gallatin Valley was good yesterday, we moved several nice fish and quite a few smaller ones as well. Nymphing with attractor nymphs continues to be the most productive fishing in the Gallatin Canyon, with typical rigs including a large Prince Nymph variation followed by a smaller Mayfly nymph variation. San Juan Worms are getting quite a few east right now as well - we like the Hot Pink vernille version.
This can be a challenging time of the year for most of the Montana fly-fishing options near Bozeman as weather and water conditions change rapidly with extreme temperature fluctuations during the day. As the temperatures become more stable, the water temperatures will as well, which in turn will give a bit more consistency to fish behavior and feeding patterns.
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.
We offer, year-round, guided Montana fly fishing trips throughout Southwest Montana for anglers of all skill levels. Bozeman fly fishing guide trips on the Gallatin River focus on half-day wade-trip outings in the Gallatin Valley and float-trips on the lower Gallatin, downstream of the town of Manhattan. Reservations can be made online or via e-mail and please reach out to us using our Contact Form if you have any questions relating to fly-fishing the Gallatin River.
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Tungsten Jigged Prince
White Peanut Envy
Purple Psycho Prince
Hot Pink San Juan Worm
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.
