Now is the time to be on the Gallatin.  “Bozeman’s” river is fishing well both in and out of Yellowstone; water flows remain above average and the water temperature is staying nice and cool.  Makes for happy trout, my friends.

Outside of the Park, fishing has been excellent.  From mid-canyon (think Storm Castle) on upstream into the Park waters, the fish are present and ready to play.  Spruce Moths are still bringing in some fish, as are Caddis and Terrestrials.  Terrestrials should be very good the next few days as our weather warms back up and the sun is out.  Hoppers and Beetles seem to be Gallatin favorites.

In the Park, Baetis are beginning to hatch on these cool, cloudy days.  You can see the fish feeding on these small mayflies floating in the film in slow pools.  On sunny days, again, go for Terrestrials.  Hoppers, Hoppers, Hoppers.  Be prepared to cover lots of water with your fly, and keep moving.  The key to fishing the Gallatin right now is to find what the fish are after and go for it.  So don’t be bashful about changing flies and trying new stretches of water.  Work on getting a few good drifts and if you don’t get any action, change it up.

More reports of bear encounters are coming in daily; be sure to keep the bear spray readily accessible and don’t loose track of what’s happening in your surroundings.  Those buggers may be big, but they can appear out of nowhere faster than you would care to imagine.

Today’s picture by the way is of Specimen Creek, one of the many Gallatin tribs that is fishing quite well also. 

Flows on the Gallatin today (0600) are 548 cfs, with today’s average 487 cfs, taken at the gage near Gallatin Gateway.

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Flies to Have in the Box

Dries:  PMD Sparkle Dun, Harrop PMD CDC Biot Thorax, Harrop PMD Biot Cripple Parachute, Parachute Adams, AK’s Paraquill, Orange or Yellow Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis, Z Wing Caddis, Hares Ear Trude, have your baetis box too

Nymphs: B.H. Flashback Hare’s Ear, Copper or Red Copper Johns, King Prince, Queen Prince, Bubbleback PMD, Bloody Mary, Lightning Bug, Red Headed Step Child, Brown & Tan Rubber Legs, Olive, Golden and Black Double Bead Stones, Poxy Biot Golden Stone, Mega Prince, B.H. Black Beauty, Red Zebra Midge, Brassies, Baetis Nymph.

Streamers / Other: Halloween Woolly Bugger, Olive B.H. Rubberleg Woolly Bugger, Olive and Black Bow River Buggers, Olive or Black Carey Buggers, and Peacock Woolly Bugger.

Terrestrials:  Hoppers, Ants, Beetles, Bees

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