The Gallatin is fishing great on attractor dry flies with bead droppers. Nymphing the deeper runs with a stonefly on top and a smaller mayfly nymph on point is also very effective. The Gallatin should continue to provide great fishing for the next few weeks. The trout are still in the softer water along banks, rocks and it tailouts. Fishing is best in the later morning and mid afternoon when water temps are ideal and trigger hatches. Trout are eating both dries and nymphs. Attractor dry flies are just starting to produce and a dropper rig is a nice option. In the deeper runs try running a nymph rig with a stonefly trailed by a smaller bead head attractor nymph. Cover a lot of water but pay attention to where you are finding trout. They are still giving preference to slower flows while the water temps are rising and are not in the fastest riffles yet. The wade fishing can still be challenging with the higher flows.
Flies for the Gallatin River for the Next Few Weeks:
Pat's rubberlegs #6-10
Perdigons #14-18
FKA Prince #12-16
Blowtorch #14-18
Flutter Bug #6-8
Chubby #8-16
Foam Run Caddis #14-16
Mini Dungeon #4-8
Sculpzilla #4-8
The Month Ahead:
The Gallatin will continue to fish well for the month of July. As flows drop and the river warms the peak fishing window will slowly move to earlier in the day and morning fishing will out produce afternoons. Aquatic insects will drive the fishing in early July and transition to terrestrials and nymphing smaller patterns in late July.
Long Term Fishing Forecast
The Gallatin fishes well all summer. In the later summer the early morning and evening will be most productive. As the river drops go to progressively smaller patterns for both dries and nymphs.