Despite a big bump in flows over the past few days from a heavy rain storm that moved through, the Gallatin is in pretty good shape. Flows are better than they have been in recent years, and the fish are eagerly feeding on a variety of insect life.
Everything from caddis to mayflies to Spruce Moths is coming off this time of year. The fish are looking up and taking dries. Look for mayflies and moths in the morning, with caddis and more mayflies in the evenings. Hoppers are drawing strikes from about noon on. Attractors such as humpies and Royal Wulffs are becoming a staple out here too.
If nothing is working the surface, a small bead head nymph is a good bet. One of my personal favorites for the Gallatin is a prince. Pheasant tails, san juan worms, hare’s ears, and caddis pupae are all effective. If you are fishing a hopper, throw one of these nymphs down underneath it. Streamers have been working on the cloudy days as well.
The river below the canyon is going to be your best bet for hoppers.
Tags: River - Gallatin
