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The Gallatin is on hoot owl from Cameron bridge down to the confluence with the Missouri river. In the cold water up canyon way, It is game on, on the Gallatin. The water has dropped to an excellent flow for getting around on foot. The mud has cleared out to fishable visibility as well. Up canyon way, The rip rap walls have been a great place to drop a dry dropper rig. There are some caddis, Spruce Moths, Sedge, and the occasional nocturnal stone kicking around. The mornings have been most consistent down deeper. But by afternoon up canyon way it is probably a good idea to have a spruce or two in the box. The evenings have been more consistent fishing on the surface if dry flies are your thing. You can nymph if you like, but the dry dropper has been picking up the majority of the fish. Down in the valley, the hoppers, ants, and beetles have been ruling the surface for us. Keep an eye out for smaller mayflies in the morning too, a few days the fish have keyed on them, and an Adams parachute will get the job done.
Summer tips:
Dries:
Hopper patterns (10-14) ,Purple Chubby (6-10), Royal Chubby (6-10), Copper Chubby (6-12), Elk Hair Caddis (14) , Chubby Sally (10-12), Purple Haze (12-18), spruce moth (10)
Nymphs:
Pats Rubber Legs (6-12), Delektable Stones (6-8), Pheasant Tail (12-16), Lightening Bug (12-16), Puparazi (12-16), Fertile Caddis (14-16), Serengold (14-18), Birds Nest Olive (12-16), Jig Prince (14-16)
Streamers:
Kreelux Gold, Sculpzilla dealers choice, Baby Gonga blonde or olive, Sparkle Minnow sculpin or blk/silver, Mini dungeon dealers choice and good ole' wooly buggers