Today's Read
Gallatin River is fishing around blue-winged olives and midges. Start with the patterns below and adjust only after fish show you something different.
Big Sky to Gallatin Gateway, Montana
Best Flies For Gallatin River
Stay subsurface most of the day and cover pocket water fast with a compact stonefly-and-mayfly rig.
Bugs & Best Matches
What's active
Fish this
Blue-winged olives, size 18-20, midday on overcast days
BWO Sparkle Dun, size 18-20, dry; RS2 olive, size 20-22, emerger
Midges, size 18-22, early and late in slower water
RS2 olive, size 20-22, emerger
Small black stoneflies, size 14-16, afternoons near banks and rough edges
Pat's Rubber Legs, size 8-10, nymph
General subsurface
Frenchie, size 16-18, nymph; Perdigon olive or black, size 16-18, nymph; Parachute Adams, size 16-18, dry
How To Fish These Flies
- Use enough weight to tick bottom quickly in short drifts. The Gallatin rewards efficient high-sticking more than long dead drifts.
- Target cushion water behind midstream rocks, pocket tails, and the inside shelf below faster riffles.
- When fish start rising, step into softer current and fish a small BWO or RS2 under a dry instead of forcing a big dry pattern.
Current Conditions
FlowSpring flow is usually clear in the upper canyon but can rise fast with warm weather or dirty tributary input lower down.
Water TempCold water keeps fish grouped in softer current breaks and short feeding lanes.
WeatherClouds help the hatch. Bright sun usually pushes the better fish deeper or tighter to structure.
Rating6/10
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