Gallatin River Fly Fishing in May
In May, the Gallatin River gradually builds from spring thaw to peak runoff. Snowmelt swells the river and degrades clarity. Fishing can be good during the earlier weeks of the month, but there's a countdown to June when the river becomes inhospitable for a few weeks.
Trout feed aggressively near banks and mid-river structures, but wading gets harder as flows rise.
Gallatin River Fly Fishing Hatches in May
Blue-winged olives (BWOs), march browns, and midges emerge in early May. Caddis become increasingly active in the Gallatin Valley sections and can provide some terrific dry fly fishing in the evenings when water levels are stable.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro-Tip:
The river can be dirty this time of year, but there are still good angling opportunities if you go above Taylor's Fork Creek near Big Sky, MT. The Gallatin River is normally clearer above this creek as it is the main source of sedimentary runoff. When flows are high, use a nymph and indicator setup with a size 10, brown Pat's Rubberlegs and a size 10 red Sparkle Worm along the banks.
Gallatin River Fly Fishing Techniques in May
Stay on shore or wade carefully, and focus on slow moving water near the banks or next to structure. Nymphing tends to catch the most fish. Use short casts with heavily weighted rigs to find some large brown trout as water levels rise and clarity starts to diminish.
Streamer anglers can dredge heavy sink tips through holding lies as the river rises.
Dry fly-fishing opportunities abound in the early part of May if water levels and clarity remain stable.
Gallatin River Fly Box for May
Gallatin River Fly Fishing Trips in May
As the Gallatin’s flows swell and its color degrades later in May, we leverage our 23+ years of guiding to put our guests on the best waters available. The fishing around Bozeman is generally very good through late May on the Madison, but the Yellowstone and Gallatin become unfishable when runoff gets high.
Our Bozeman guided fly fishing trips focus on the Madison River for both novice and experienced anglers throughout May.
The Missouri River fishing is fantastic from late-April through mid-June, near Craig, Montana. Many of our longtime customers have made a tradition of fishing with us for 2-3 days on the Missouri in May. Missouri River fishing guides are available during this time of the year and welcome anglers of all skill levels for day and multi-day trips.
Learn more about our Gallatin River fishing day trips in May – when conditions permit – by reaching out through our Contact Form. Guided trips can be booked online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 406-468-5019.