Known as one of the best wade fishing rivers in Montana, the Gallatin River is the closest larger river to Bozeman. It begins in Yellowstone National Park then winds its way through the Gallatin Canyon all the way to Three Forks where it meets up with the Jefferson and Madison rivers to form the Missouri River.
The Gallatin has been fishing great recently and should continue to fish excellently as we get further into summer. We have all been hearing good reports of fish being caught everywhere from above the taylor's fork near the park boundary to about the valley here in Bozeman so the whole river is in play right now! Fishing with dry dropper rigs have been the most consistent way to put fish in the net as of late and it is pretty tough to beat a smaller chubby up top to a rubberlegs, blowtorch, CDC pheasant tail, and inferno-gons. For dry flies we recommend fishing those smaller 12-14 sz chubbies, caddis, and parachute adams/purple haze's. Streamer fishing with heavy flies can be a really good way to put fish in the net too especially with sculpin patterns or smaller baitfish.
Adams (16-22), Purple Haze (16-20), Buzzball (16-18), Elk Hair Caddis Tan/ Olive(12-18), Film critic BWO, Stubby Chubby Purple, Cinnamon, Yellow, Tan (16-18)
Wooly Bugger Olive, Black (6-12), Fish Whacker Olive/white or Brown/yellow (6) Sculpzilla Tan,Black,Olive (4-8), GD P/Jig Streamer White/ Olive/Black (10), Micro Dungeon Yellow (10), Mini Dungeon Olive/ Purple/ Natural/ White (6)
Prince Nymph (10-18), Perdigon (14-18), Pat’s Rubber Legs (8-12), Hare’s Ear (16-20), Blowtorch (12-18), Zebra Midge Black/ Red/ Purple (16-22), Sweetmeat Caddis Tanger/Lime (14-16), Sizzlin' Hot Squirrel (12-16)
