Gallatin River Fishing Report
Gallatin River Fishing Report
4/22/2025
Be sure you've purchased your 2025 fishing license before heading out on the water! You can get a new license here.
Keep an eye out for spawning fish this time of year. If you see a fish sitting in shallow water on top of gravel that looks cleaner than the rest of the river bottom be sure to leave it alone, DO NOT try and catch that fish, that fish wants to make more fish for us!
On the Gallatin River here in Big Sky, flows have increased just a bit and water temps are holding in the high 40s and occasionally hitting 50. We are seeing a little bit of color in the river but the fish are happy and feeding on a variety of different insects. On a typical day you can expect to see hatches from midges, blue winged olives, and march browns. Looking at the weather forecast there is relatively warm temps and precipitation coming to Big Sky. This will likely add some more color to the river and increase flows a little bit. We are not in runoff yet, and a little higher water and murkiness is not going to slow these fish down!
The Spring classics of attractor patterns like rubber legs, worms, eggs, leeches, and hot headed patterns are all going to produce right now. Starting the day with a nymph rig will definitely get some fish in the net but there are plenty of dry fly opportunities on the Gallatin. The lower down on the river, closer to Bozeman or Belgrade, that you are will have warmer water temps and more consistent hatches. The higher up stretches in the canyon and south of Big Sky will have clearer water and cooler temps. Most sections will nymph or streamer fish incredibly well and the dry fly fishing will be dependent on how good the conditions are in the section you're in.
With good bug activity from a few types of maylfies, using pheasant tails, two bit hookers, and soft hackles will get you a lot of attention. If winter made you get tired of nymphing, try throwing a streamer, when water clarity isn't at an all time high the streamer bite can be highly productive.
No matter what method you decide to try and fish, be sure to cover the entire river. Trout are extremely happy at these water temps and will be in most areas of the river. Just make sure you leave any potential spawners alone. Spawning trout are easy to identify, they will typically be in shallow water ontop of gravel that looks considerably cleaner than the rest of the river bottom. We want to leave these fish alone in the Spring as they are very important to the health of our fishery!
Unsure of what you should be using on the river today? Check out our pattern suggestions below or swing by our shop in Big Sky for some advice!
Dries: Cluster Midge #14-20, 401K Baetis #16-18, Brooks Sprout Baetis #18-20, Parachute Adams #16-20, Royal Wulff #16-18, Carlson's Olive Haze #14-18, Chubby Chernobyl (Royal, Black/Purple) #16
Nymphs:Pat's Rubberlegs (black, coffee, brown) #8-12, BH Pheasant Tail CDC #14-16, Delektable Lil Spanker (Red, Pheasant Tail, Olive) #18-20, Green Mo (Black) #16-20, Radiation Baetis (Pink, Copper/Orange, Peacock), Two Bit Hooker (Red, Black) #16-18, Squirminator Jig (Red, Pink) #12, TB SH Perdigon (Natural) #16,
Streamers: Boogieman (Yellow, White) #4, McClure's Mini Kill Whitey (White) #4, Home Invader (Yellow) #2, Wooly Bugger (olive, black)#10, Coffey's Sparkle Minnow (Sculpin, Black Light) #8, Barely Legals (olive, black), Beldar Bugger (black) #8
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Updated reports for the Gallatin River coming to you from our backyard in beautiful Big Sky, Montana. We know this river like the back of our hands.
