It’s a fishing day

Gallatin River fishing conditions · Montana

Sit it outno rainbow trout window clears the bar in 36 hours

Rainbow trout is the best bet here today.

Dense Fog Advisory until Monday 12 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 53 for rainbow trout, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 531 am
  2. 53
  3. 53
  4. 534 am
  5. 39
  6. 39
  7. 397 am
  8. 41
  9. 49
  10. 4110 am
  11. 41
  12. 41
  13. 411 pm
  14. 49
  15. 49
  16. 494 pm
  17. 49
  18. 49
  19. 497 pm
  20. 46
  21. 46
  22. 3910 pm
  23. 39
  24. 29Tue
  25. 291 am
  26. 38
  27. 38
  28. 464 am
  29. 46
  30. 49
  31. 497 am
  32. 49
  33. 49
  34. 4910 am
  35. 49
  36. 49
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
1 mph

From the south

Flow
365 cfs

steady · -7% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:56 am

Sky
Widespread Fog

No rain expected

Air
25°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Central District regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

Season here: May–Jun, Sep–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

45Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River365 cfs · steady · -7% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.25 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:56 am
  • Sunset today6:21 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 am–2:10 am
  • Minor solunarToday 8:20 am–9:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:30 pm–2:30 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The tumbling pocket-water trout stream that drops out of Yellowstone through the Gallatin Canyon along US-191 past Big Sky — and the river where the film of “A River Runs Through It” was shot. Wade-only through much of the canyon, with eager rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout holding in fast riffles and plunge pools.

Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18" and only 1 cutthroat; northern pike unlimited. Yellowstone Park to the East Gallatin is closed to fishing from boats, and Porcupine Creek Road to the West Fork opens the third Saturday in May.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Yellowstone River at Livingston35 mi · MontanaBest today 3 am–4 am
88Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Gallatin River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Gallatin River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Gallatin River?

Gallatin River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Gallatin River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Gallatin River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Gallatin River have?

Gallatin River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18" and only 1 cutthroat; northern pike unlimited. Yellowstone Park to the East Gallatin is closed to fishing from boats, and Porcupine Creek Road to the West Fork opens the third Saturday in May.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Gallatin River?

state agency regulations apply at Gallatin River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Gallatin River tidal water?

No. Gallatin River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.