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 good and should only get better the further we head into fall. We have all been hearing good reports of fish being caught everywhere from the Yellowstone park boundary to the confluence of the Missouri river so the whole river is fair game. Fishing a dry dropper rig or nymphing has been the most consistent way to put fish in the net as of late. Fishing a small tan thunder thigh hopper, Hippie stomper, Yeager 409, September stone, or a stimulator and dropping a duracell, blowtorch, pat's rubber legs, frenchie, red copper john, or amber Psycho prince 2 feet or so behind the dry fly can catch fish consistently all day. Nymphing with a stonefly and dropping a smaller nymph behind like a hare's ear, pheasant tail or Formerly known as prince nymph is also a good option if you get out there before they are rising or they are being picky on the dry dropper. Streamer fishing, with the cooler temperatures, is also really fun this time of year too. Some of the shop favorites as of late are the sparkle minnow, baby gonga, ditch witch, mini peanut envy, micro or mini dungeon, freshwater closer, and the Sculpzilla.
Adams (16-22), Purple Haze (16-20), Para sipper PMD (14-18), Extended Body PMD (14-18), Thunder Thighs hopper Tan/Yellow/Pink (10-14), Yeager 409 Yellow/ Purple (10), Buzzball (16-18), Elk Hair Caddis Tan/ Olive(12-18), Chubby Chernobyl Tan/ Purple/ Olive, 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)
