Gallatin River Fishing Report

May 8, 2013

Now is the perfect time to book trips for our upcoming season. With warmer temps over the past couple days and gorgeous weather ahead, we're in the early stages of run-off on many of our freestones. We are however, anticipating a great water level year ahead!!

Our tailwaters such as the Madison, Bighorn, and Missouri, are still cold, clear, and in fishable shape, and fishing quite well in fact! Area lakes and Spring Creeks also offer the visiting fly fisherman with several options if they're after big trout this time of year.

The Gallatin has gotten mighty muddy the last few days and is pretty much done until futher notice; however over on the Upper Madison we're seeing Baetis, Midges, and March Browns too. The Lower Madison also is in great shape and has tons of caddis popping in afternoons.

The Yellowstone however is officially blown-out until further notice, as our annual run-off is here finally! Here at Greater Yellowstone Flyfishers we're counting down the days at this point; until all is clear....So now is a great time to book the best dates with your favorite guide!

Fishing Conditions & Comments:
The Gallatin is fishing good in the valley when clear. Nymphing lightning bugs, mega prince, and copper johns; as well as Baetis emergers are working well.

For dries we're seeing Baetis and March Browns, but getting them to eat from the surface is hit or miss. Things have colored up in the canyon and even muddy in sections down lower.

As run off begins try a rubber leg as a good lead fly then an orange nuclear wire worm, add split shot and go fish!!

A weighted whooly bugger or smaller streamers like the Coffee's sparkle minnow in the shallow clearer sections can be deadly.
Get out there pre-run off and enjoy this nice weather!

Updated:
05/06/2013

Stream Flow:
535 cfs @ Gallatin Gateway

River Conditions:
Fishing good in the Valley where clear

Hatches:
Midges, Baetis, March Brown

Dries:
Baetis Trude,
Hi Vis Adams,
Rusty Parachute

Nymphs:
Mega Prince 6-10
Double bead stone 4-10
Lightning Bugs
Flashback pheasant tails
Soft Hackles

Streamers:
Olive and Black Bow River Buggers 6-8
Olive or Black Carey Buggers 8-10
Peacock Woolly Bugger 8-10
Halloween Woolly Buggers 8-10
McCune's Sculpin Tan or Olive 6-8

Greater Yellowstone Flyfishers · 29 Pioneer Way · Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone (406) 585-5321 · Fax (406) 587-5091 · Email Us

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