The Gallatin (YNP) continues to fish well, and is primed for a great September.

After a bump in flows due to rain (peaking on the 6th), flows this morning (0245) are 360 cfs at Gallatin Gateway, with today’s average 491 cfs, and the river is still a bit stained from the rains, but that won’t last long.  When we drove back in from the Park yesterday evening, it was lightly stained but better than it had looked in the morning.

Like on most of the waters in the region at this point, the main summer hatch activity has for the most part concluded - you will see pockets of sparse Tricos and a few Caddis in the afternoons (in the Park section they have been small and black).  BWOs will be more evident as things cool.

The best approach right now is going to be more weather dependent that anything else.  On the sunnier, warmer fall days, starting the day with a streamer/nymph or double nymph set up would make sense, and converting over to an attractor/dropper or terrestrial/dropper set up as things warm up. 

On an overcast day, we’d probably throw streamers early and look for BWOs midday; pending the temperatures you could convert over to attractor/droppers, though streamers might carry the day for you. 

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:  baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Para-adams; Caddis - EHC, X Caddis, Electric Caddis - tan, olive, black;  PMX, red, yellow, black and lime; Mahoganies; your attractor package.

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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