Montana ·
Gallatin River Fly Fishing Report - November 8, 2026
GALLATIN RIVER
ReportNOV 8 — 15, 2026
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Flow
350CFS
Gallatin River near Gallatin Gateway, MT
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-11-07
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Weather
31–61°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 350 CFS near Gallatin Gateway with a gauge height of 1.37 ft — right at base level and gin clear, making this a technical, light-tippet game. Mild afternoon temps pushing toward 61°F today should coax trout out of their lies and into feeding lanes through midday.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
Top Secret Baetis #16
16
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
22
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
18
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
12
Egan's Frenchie #12
12
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Extra Heavy #14
14
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
6
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
14
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Heavy | 10 AM - 3 PM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Light | 1 PM - 4 PM |
| Stonefly (Little Brown) | 12-14 | Light | 9 AM - 12 PM |
Best Time Window
- 8 AM - 10 AM: Early nymphing in deep canyon pools and slow runs before the sun hits the water — fish are stacked and a tungsten lead fly gets you to them fast.
- 11 AM - 2 PM: Prime BWO and midge hatch window as temps climb toward the afternoon high — watch for rising fish in tailouts and switch to a dry or emerger.
- 3 PM - 5 PM: Last-light streamer hour along undercut banks and boulder structure — November browns are territorial and will eat a sculpin or bugger stripped with authority.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 350 CFS and the water crystal clear, drop down to 5X or 6X fluorocarbon and keep your indicator set to fish the bottom third of the water column — trout are not chasing in cold November temps, so your drift needs to be right in their face. Focus your morning on the deeper canyon pools and slower runs where fish have transitioned away from the faster riffles. As the afternoon warms toward 60°F, watch for BWO activity in the flats and tailouts — that's your window to switch to a dry fly and pick off rising fish. If you want a shot at a big brown, work a sculpin pattern along the banks in the last two hours of light.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
