Gallatin River Fly Fishing in the Fall

Gallatin River Fly Fishing in the Fall

Fall is a favorite time of the year for locals to fly fish the Gallatin River near Bozeman and Big Sky. The changing of the season brings variable weather to Montana, so being prepared for “anything” is key to success this time of the year. Hopper patterns might be the “guides’ choice” one day while streamer fly fishing with sinking fly lines might be called for the next.

Low flows and cooling water create excellent angling opportunities for the experienced fly fisher adept at dry fly fishing with fine tippets and delicate presentations.

Brown Trout begin to move throughout the river system in anticipation of their spawning season.

In general, there is light angling pressure by late September with October and November providing solitude on the river.

Gallatin River Fly Fishing Hatches of Fall

Cooler days and nights bring about the reappearance of Blue-Winged Olives by mid-September. Anglers fishing the Gallatin Canyon sections can expect to find rising fish during the early afternoons on cloudy, mild days throughout the fall. Pseudocleon and Western Red Quill mayflies can be found sporadically in late September and October as well.

Gallatin River Fly Fishing Techniques for Fall

The experienced angler with technical skills will feel right at home while fly fishing the Gallatin River during the fall months. Clear water and wary trout call for long leaders with fine tippets and small flies whether fly fishing with dry flies or nymphs. Cautious approaches and accurate presentations can make all the difference between fish in the net and a day full of slack lines.

Streamer fly fishing improves in the Gallatin Valley sections near Bozeman and Manhattan as irrigation demand wanes and cool water becomes the norm. Pre-spawn Brown trout become increasingly aggressive during this time and can be targeted using sinking lines with articulated streamer fly patterns around deep runs and tailouts.

Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro-Tip:

The lower Gallatin River slows down in early September as transitory fish move back down into the Missouri Headwaters and further up into the Gallatin Valley with cooling water. However, a few of those legendary Montana Brown Trout show up in the lower river section in October. Target the deep runs along rip rap bank structure using sinking fly lines with weighted streamers for the best opportunity at hooking into one of the monster trout of the that frequent these fabled waters during the fall.

Gallatin River Fly Box for Fall