Big Sky to Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Best Flies For Gallatin River

Gallatin River | Big Sky to Gallatin Gateway, Montana | Updated Sep 14, 2026, 7:00 AM MDT | Station: Gallatin River above Deer Creek, near Big Sky, MT

Dead drift along riffle seams and drop-offs where trout hold in cold water.

Forecast timing & sources
Forecast generated
Sep 14, 2026, 7:00 AM MDT
Valid until
Sep 15, 2026, 7:00 AM MDT
Source updated
Sep 14, 2026, 7:00 AM MDT
Flow observation
Observed Sep 14, 2026, 6:30 AM MDT
Water temperature observation
Observed Sep 14, 2026, 6:30 AM MDT

Buggin combines river and weather signals into a fishing forecast. A rating is model guidance, not a catch guarantee. Observation times can differ from forecast generation.

Configured gauge: Gallatin River above Deer Creek, near Big Sky · 06043120. The forecast point may differ from the gauge location.

Cold morning water temperatures on the Gallatin mean trout are holding deep and feeding primarily on subsurface nymphs and larvae rather than looking up.

What's active
Fish this
Baetis, size #16-#20, Midday (10:00 AM–2:00 PM)
Pheasant Tail, size #16-#20, dry; Sparkle Dun, size #16-#20, dry; RS2, size #16-#20, dry
Midges, size #18-#22, Midday (10:00 AM–2:00 PM)
Zebra Midge, size #18-#22, dry; Griffiths Gnat, size #18-#22, dry; CDC Midge Pupa, size #18-#22, dry
Caddis, size #14-#18, Midday (10:00 AM–2:00 PM)
Elk Hair Caddis, size #14-#18, dry; Caddis Pupa, size #14-#18, dry; A Pascals Caddis Pupa, size #14-#18, dry
Stoneflies, size #10-#14, Variable
No matching fly supplied
Terrestrials, size #12-#16, Variable
No matching fly supplied
  • Dead drift along riffle seams and drop-offs where trout hold in cold water.
  • Use Double nymph rig under a high-vis indicator.
  • Favor Weighted beadheads, slender profiles, natural body colors.
Flow246 cfs and rising
Water Temp50°F
WeatherPartly Cloudy
Rating6/10 · Fair