The Gallatin River has been fishing very well the past few days… and nights.  Driving back from Yellowstone late yesterday evening, I saw a cadre of anglers gearing up to go fish soon after dusk.  Several people have said they’ve had very good luck fishing the hour after dark.  Big stonefly patterns and caddis seem to be the favorite for after-hours fishing.  Be sure to bring your bear spray, though, bear sightings continue to be all too common this year.

There are still a few salmon flies left here or there, and although the big hatch is most definitely over, anglers are having luck with them still.  Rainbows are starting to come up for green drakes, pale morning duns, and a couple of special caddis flies as well.  In the Park, the river has some really good PMD hatches and evening caddis.  Below Taylor Fork, the Gallatin in the canyon is finally clear, and is fishing quite nicely.  Fish are tending to gather in the deeper off-speed pools. 

The Gallatin is most definitely worth your time right now.  If you’re feeling gutsy, give the late evening fishing a try.  If not, head out in the early morning or catch the evening caddis.  Either way, get ye to the Gallatin, for there is good fishing in those waters!

Flows today (0600) are 1160 cfs, with today’s average 749 cfs at Gallatin Gateway.   

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Flies to Have in the Box

Dries:  PMDs - parachute, sparkle dun, sprout, cripple, CDC Emerger, PMX - yellow, peacock, royal; Drakes - Paradrake, gray, green, olive, life cycle; Parachute Adams; Caddis – EHC, X Caddis, Electric Caddis, EC Caddis, Spent Caddis – tan and olive; Golden Stone;

Nymphs:  BHFBPT; SF PT; Copper John;  Caddis - Mangy, Pulsating/Electric, Super Pupas; Prince / MegaPrince / BH Prince; Lightning bugs, gold, silver;

Streamers / Others:  Woolly Buggers, brown, black, olive, blue; Sparkle Buggers, same

Terrestrials:  Ants and beetles, hoppers aren’t far off!

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