Gallatin River, Big Sky, Montana

Living just a few miles from the Gallatin river for over 20 years, I definitely have a love of this river. It is where I taught my sister how to fly fish, and well as, so many great memories.  The Gallatin River covers a 90 mile stretch which has its start from springs in Yellowstone National Park and flows to Three Forks.  Yellowstone to Big Sky, the Gallatin offers blue-ribbon fishing for walk/wade fishing and flows parallel of Highway 191 with many small creeks adding to its flow.  This stretch is known for its riffle fishing and has many campgrounds and fishing access sites. There is a mixture of private and public land along the length of the Gallatin River so high water rules apply.  Through the Big Sky area you will compete with river rafters but it is common to land a fish just after a boat floats by.

Characteristics of the Gallatin continue to change on its journey.  The lower Gallatin which runs (along Highway 191) through Gallatin Gateway to Belgrade does not have quite the riffles and deep pockets but does have many state fishing access sites.  Drift boats are permitted to get to point-to-point only; no fishing from the boat is allowed.  It changes again from about Belgrade, Montana and flows along I-90 to Three forks where it joins the Madison river and the Jefferson river to form the Missouri river.   Fish species for the Gallatin are rainbows, browns, cutthroat, as well as, Cuttbow hybrids, and whitefish.  Another species you may encounter are Moose as they spend time in the willows along the shore.  Elk and bear are often seen in and around the Gallatin between Yellowstone National Park and Big Sky which can make for some amazing photo opts!

The Gallatin Canyon runs about 30 miles along Highway 191 and is, for the most part, a somewhat narrow rocky gorge shaded by amazing pines, aspens, willows, which only adds to the beauty of fall fishing!  This area is also well knows by the Robert Redford film “A River Runs Through It”.  Catching a view of the actors fishing was definitely a bonus.

Follow this link for more detailed information on fishing the Gallatin river.