With so many unbelievable rivers within an hour drive of Bozeman the Gallatin River can sometimes get overlooked among the bigger rivers such as the Yellowstone and Madison. While the average size of the fish caught on the Gallatin River might not be as large as the fish caught on those other rivers the beautiful scenery and abundant dry fly opportunities more than make up for it. There are three main sections to the Gallatin which we will discuss and the different types of fishing that is found in each one.
The first section of the Gallatin River is from the headwaters to the town of Big Sky. Here the Gallatin is mainly a meadow stream that is great for the wading angler. A large portion of the river in this section is in Yellowstone National Park so there are different regulations and licenses that will apply. There are a number of 12” class trout found in this section and they readily rise to a well presented dry fly. The insect hatches that one will find in this area are diverse with hatches ranging from Blue-Winged Olives to Salmonflies. There is a great caddis hatch that starts in late spring and lasts through most of the summer. A great way to spend an evening is to drive up from Bozeman and fish this hatch as the fish really get active towards the end of the day. Smaller attractor dry flies like Parachute Adams, Royal Wulffs, and H & L Variants will take fish throughout the year up here. Nymphing with small beadheads will also account for a large number of fish in this section if the dry fly fishing is not producing. The Gallatin is a freestone river which means that it is affected by spring runoff which can make the river dirty for much of May and June. The main culprit of this runoff is the Taylor’s Fork, a small tributary south of Big Sky. Often the river above where the Taylor’s Fork flows into the Gallatin will be clear and fishable long before the rest of the river clears. As with the rest of the Gallatin there is abundant fishing access in this section with Yellowstone Park and plenty of National Forest land. There are many pullouts along the highway to park and access the river for fishing in this section.
The next section of the Gallatin River is usually referred to as the “Canyon” stretch which goes from the town of Big Sky to the small hamlet known as Gallatin Gateway. This is the most popular stretch of the Gallatin and with Highway 191 running the length of the river it is easily accessible. The canyon stretch is classic pocket water with both nymphing and dry flies producing during the season. Stoneflies are prevalent in this stretch and the salmonflies and golden stones are a great way to start the summer season on the Gallatin as they tend to hatch towards the end of June. Another interesting insect that has become a staple of summer fishing on the Gallatin is the spruce moth. These little bugs which look like a large caddis appear in the middle of the summer and have provided some incredible fishing the past couple of years. Caddis also make up a large portion of the insect life in this stretch and like the upper stretch they hatch from late spring through most of the summer. Casting an attractor dry fly will bring plenty of strikes in the summer and you will find lots of 12” class trout this way. If you are looking for the bigger fish in this stretch try fishing a large stonefly nymph or streamer in the many deep holes along the canyon. If you are one of those people that think that the Gallatin River only has smaller fish in it you might be pleasantly surprised if you devote some time to these tactics! Attractor dry flies like PMXs, Stimulators, and Chernobyl Ants with a beadhead hung below make for a great combination on the Gallatin. A couple of spots that we like to fish the Gallatin at are Moose Creek and Greek Creek campgrounds. The fishing is great at these two accesses and the campgrounds have nice amenities for the family member who does not want to fish. In the summer one should take note of the whitewater rafting that occurs between Storm Castle and Moose Creek as there are lots of rafts floating this section.
The last stretch of the Gallatin River that we will cover is from 4 Corners to the Missouri Headwaters. In this stretch access becomes more limited as the river flows through the populated Gallatin Valley. There are several access points close to 4 Corners that deserve mention. They are Axtell Bridge, 4 Corners Bridge, and Cameron Bridge. By virtue of their close location to Bozeman and Belgrade these sites see their share of angling pressure. A good rule when fishing these spots is to walk for a short distance before you begin your fishing as many anglers don’t ever lose sight of their car. During the summer one can find great hopper fishing as the river makes its way through the many fields that dot the Gallatin Valley. As the river flows towards the towns of Manhattan and Logan the fish numbers began to drop, but there are some large fish down there. An angler willing to take a chance might consider floating between Manhattan and Logan to try for one of those lunkers.
Overall the Gallatin offers an angler many different fishing opportunities as it flows from just outside West Yellowstone all the way to the Missouri Headwaters. One would have to look hard to find a more accessible river in the state of Montana. While the fish in the Gallatin might be of a smaller class when compared to the Madison or Yellowstone they are usually more willing and a little more forgiving of a bad cast. Beginners and children often catch their first Montana trout in this river and remember it fondly. The scenery of the Gallatin is second to none, “A River Runs Through It,” was filmed on the Gallatin. When visiting Bozeman be sure to give the Gallatin a chance and I believe you will be glad you did so!
Daniel Uter
The River’s Edge
