Montana Fishing Reports ยท Southwest Region
The Gallatin runs through a tight, scenic canyon along US-191 between Big Sky and Bozeman, a wade-only river full of rainbows and browns in pocket water.
Looking for the latest Gallatin River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Gallatin River (Gallatin Canyon).
Current flows
Wind forecast
Gallatin River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge near Gallatin Gateway reads around 360 cfs, clear and cold.
Attractor dries with a Perdigon or Pheasant Tail dropper still work midday, and BWOs come off on cloudy, calm days.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Gallatin Canyon, bring: Perdigon #14-18, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Pat', s Rubber Legs #10-14, Parachute Adams #16-20, Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Gallatin River details
| Access | Pullouts along US-191 through Gallatin Canyon. The river is closed to fishing from boats. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 5,000 to 6,500 ft |
| Nearest town | Big Sky, Montana |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Fish | Rainbow and brown trout, plus some cutthroat and whitefish |
| Regulations | Fishing from a boat is not allowed on most of the Gallatin. Check Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations for the current rules. A Montana fishing license is required for anglers 12 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds in the canyon (seasonal) |
| Kids | Partly. Roadside spots, but fast water. |
| Good to know | US-191 is busy. Park carefully. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Midges on mild days.
Spring
BWOs, then runoff.
Summer
Salmonflies, caddis and attractor dries.
Fall
BWOs and October caddis.
How to get there
From Bozeman, take US-191 south toward Big Sky.