Montana Fishing Reports | Gallatin, Yellowstone and Madison Rivers near Bozeman, MT

Montana Fishing Report Overview
For the next two or three months our fishing reports will read like a broken record as trout in our local rivers have moved into their winter time lies. Smaller streams will be closed for the winter months but many of the larger rivers and spring creeks are open all winter. For the colder months it is important to find fisheries that either have spring fed influences or bottom release water from dams. Luckily many such fisheries can be found around Montana. Fishing can actually be very good in the winter months. The trout move into slower and deeper runs where they can be found in great concentrations. The most productive fishing is definitely nymph fishing. It is important to get the flies right on the bottom so adjust weights carefully. Yarn indicators also help detect the very subtle strikes that occur in the colder months. Trout are in slow moving water and do not move fast to take flies so the strikes show up as a delicate flutter on a yarn indicator. It is good to have an itchy trigger finger when winter nymph fishing: set first and ask questions later. Some good bets for the winter are the Gallatin, Lower Madison, Livingston Spring Creeks, Missouri and the Ruby. This seems to be shaping up as a mild winter which helps keep ice shelves and slush at bay. After warm spells some of the freestone rivers like the Yellowstone, Boulder and Lower Gallatin can be great options. All it takes, however, is a few cold nights to produce slush in these same waters so pay attention to night time lows and stick to tailwaters, spring creeks and the upper Gallatin under normal conditions. We have had a handful of guide trips out in the last few weeks, mostly to the Livingston spring creeks which are down to winter rates at $40 per rod. These are always a safe bet in the colder months and it is rare that you can't pull a few fish out. We have usually been able to find a few risers on the nicer days.

Upper Madison River Fishing Report Fair
The upper river is slowing down and much of it will be closed during the winter months. If you are over in the Ennis area it is still worth a few hours after lunch, but it isn't worth the drive otherwise until the spring.

Lower Madison River Fishing Report Very Good
The Lower still has good flows and water temperatures are great for fishing. The best fishing will be in the afternoon. The baetis hatch is done and the fish are now in their winter holding water. Nymphing eggs and worms along with other standard lower mad bugs is the ticket. Keep floats short and stop and work the holding water.

Yellowstone River Fishing Report Fair
Water temps are coming down fast and the fish are slowing down. We have been having some wintery weather and that is producing some slush in the river and the big ice shelves will be forming soon. There is some water near Gardiner that is OK for wading in the winter, but otherwise this will be a fishery we will hit in the spring.

Gallatin River Fishing Report Good
The Gallatin is an outstanding winter fishery. The entire river is fishing well right now but the hatches are done for the year. The best fishing is with nymphs in the deeper holding water. Stay away from fast water in the winter. The water by Big Sky stays ice free even during the worst cold snaps.

Boulder River Fishing Report Poor
We haven't fished the Boulder in a while and probably won't make another visit until the spring. The lower reaches get slushed up pretty good in the winter with some big ice shelves. I drove over the other day and the slush was already floating. On warm snaps you could probably make a go of it, but there are better winter fisheries.

Ruby River Fishing Report Poor-Fair
The Ruby has been a bit of an enigma this season. The clarity on the river has been off on most of the days we have visited due to the work on the dam. We have been pretty gun shy about heading that way with the questionable fishing conditions. It normally fishes like a champ this time of year on streamers and at some point the water clarity has to improve but you should have a back up if you try it.

Missouri Fishing Report Very Good
The Mo is a good winter fishery below the dams. There are also some lake run fish that move out of Canyon Ferry and Holter. The lake run fishing is winding down but the winter fishing near Craig will be decent during the colder months.

Ennis, Hebgen and Harrison Lake Fishing Report
Not an option unless you use an auger.

Spring Creeks Fishing Report Very Good
The spring creeks always get good in the winter months with warmer water temperatures compared to surrounding rivers. The hatches are done for the season until the early spring midge hatches start up. Fishing will be a nymphing game during the winter with sow bugs, eggs and midge larva.

Other local fisheries
Most of the smaller fisheries will be closed for the winter months.