The following fishing report is by Montana Angler:
Day to day on the East Gallatin with all the moisture that has fallen in the valley and the snow in the Bridgers. You are also welcome to give us a call for up to date info on the East, but those that know the East Gallatin well know that now is not the best time to fish it. If you do fish the East Gallatin, San Juan Worms are always a good bet on the East, as are small flashy nymphs. Various midges and Pheasant Tails have been working well. There has been some rising fish over Blue Winged Olives, but this hatch tends to be better in the fall.
On the East Gallatin River, hatches of Blue Winged Olives are occurring regularly, the tough part is knowing where they are hatching AND being able to access the river. Fish are most active in the afternoons and nymphing will generally outproduce other methods. Trout are still concentrated in slower and deeper runs where they don’t have to work hard to find food. Even though the East Gallatin is a freestone river, during the spring season it can fish similar to a spring creek compared to some of our other freestone rivers like the main Gallatin or Yellowstone. Smaller mayfly nymphs and midge larva are best so try things like yarn indicators to detect the subtle takes.
Flies for the East Gallatin River Right Now
- Para Purple Haze in sizes 10-16
- BWO Sparkle duns in sizes 12-16
- Zebra Midge in black or red in sizes 18-22
- Beadhead Pheasant Tails in size 14-22
- Beadhead Little Green Machines in size 14-22
- Beadhead Lightening Bugs in size 14-22
- Beadhead King Princes in size 16-22
- Sculpzilla in black, olilve, or white in sizes 6-10
- Sparkle Minnow in gold/olive in size 6 and 8
- Beadhead worms in size 10
The Month Ahead:
Most likely snowmelt runoff for the foreseeable future. The East usually goes into spring runoff earlier than most other rivers. If daytime highs rise above 65 degrees and there is some rain in the forecast, keep your eye on streamflows as clarity can change quickly. When you do choose to fish the East Gallatin, focus your efforts during the hours after lunch when fish are most active or your best chance for a Blue Winged Olive hatch may occur.
