The Gallatin is one of the Park waters that has been fishing pretty darn well all summer - and still is, and yet receives much less attention that many of its more famous cousins, though the Canyon section below is pounded pretty hard all season.

Gallatin flows have settled back down after the big rains of last weekend - flows today at Gallatin Gateway are 382 cfs at 0645, with today’s average 539 cfs. 

Like on most of the waters in the region at this point, the main summer hatch activity is slowing down - probably the most consistent hatch right now are small caddis in the afternoons.  We were on the water yesterday evening in the two hours before dusk, and the caddis hatch was moderate, black, size 18ish.  You might see a Spruce Moth down in the Canyon section outside the Park, but they have just about run their course.  There are some Tricos in pockets, but not in great numbers.

The best approach right now is probably to plan to work attractor dries and terrestrials with droppers.  Below the Park in the canyon section you’ll see fewer terrestials, but the approach will be very similar.  Single attractor dries could be reasonable, and we did well several evenings ago using a double nypmh rig, running a smallish bugger ahead of a bead head prince or lightning bug.  We’re downsizing our flies overall to the 16 to 18 range.

The Gallatin below the Park is fishing well also, we’ll update the Gallatin outside the Park in the morning (Monday) at Best Fly Fishing Montana.

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Flies to Have in the Box

Dries:  EHC, tan and olive; CDC caddis, tan and olive; X Caddis, olive; Ripcord caddis, Mangy Caddis, olive and brown; PMX peacock, royal, and lime/green; Spruce Moths; Royal Wulff;

Nymphs: Mega Prince, Copper John, red, blue; Rubberlegs, olive and brown; Hares Ear; San Juan worm, red, brown; BHFBPT; ; Lightning bug, gold, silver, green /olive; Soft hackles

Terrestrials: Hoppers - Grand, tan, yellow; Dave’s; Para Hopper; Beetles - Fire, Foam, HiVis, Krystal Leg; Ants - Wilcox Glo Ant, CDC winged, epoxy, brown /cinnamon /black

Streamers / Other: Wooly buggers, olive, brown, black; Girdle bug; smaller sizes; Kiwi Muddler

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