Gallatin River Lodge

Gallatin River Lodge sits just off the Gallatin River outside Bozeman in Montana. It is in the heart of the area used in the filming of A River Runs Through It, and hosts some of the finest rainbow and brown trout fishing in the world, along with stunning scenery and a plethora of wildlife.

The region is known as ‘Big Sky’ for its seemingly endless landscape that stretches from mountain range to mountain range. The lodge itself has access to a variety of waters available and will work with you to provide the fishing best suited to you.

An array of fishing options on world class rivers

The main species targeted in this area are rainbow trout and brown trout; there are also two local subspecies of cutthroat tout (the Westslope and the Yellowstone). Catching one or even both of these cutthroat trout will well and truly round of your American West experience. There is an array of fishing to be had and different times of the year can provide the discerning fisherman with some sensational fly hatches.

The Gallatin and Madison rivers have a very similar season; they start up in April with hatches of stoneflies running through to mid-May with attractor nymphs and streamers also being very successful. Late May to mid-June can be a lull on these rivers as the warmer spring weather causes the winter run-off to slow fishing.

As you move into late June through to July the salmon fly hatches bring the river back to life and these are followed by hatches of golden stoneflies, caddis and pale morning duns. August and into September is the time of terrestrials and there can be some great large dry fly fishing now. September and October are favourites locally as this is when the blue winged olive hatches occur in large numbers and is a prime time for when also nymph and streamer fishing.

The lodge’s guides are some of the best around and share years of knowledge and experience on the waterways of Montana and further afield. They are headed by owner Steve Gamble who has been guiding and running outfitter operations since 1984. These guides understand the waters and will make the right decisions based on weather and water levels to provide a truly unforgettable trip.

The Yellowstone River is best fished between April and May in the spring months and late August through to October in the fall months. There are consistent hatches through these months which offer some fantastic dry fly sport.

The Missouri and Jefferson river systems offer fantastic fall fishing and are best fished from a drift boat. The smaller rivers and creeks can offer good fishing all year round; they are particularly good during the summer months when the easily accessible parts of the main rivers have a little more fishing pressure.

Comfortable lodge just minutes from the fishing

The main lodge offers six suites, each with Jacuzzi tub, king bed, walk-in shower, fireplace, and custom-made furnishings. The adjacent trout cabin has four spacious guest rooms with contemporary furnishings. These rooms open to patios with views of the pond, framing the Spanish Peaks Mountains. The trout lodge suite is on the second floor of the Trout Lodge building and provides two queen size bedrooms and a shared living area. The dining room is at the heart of the lodge and is a relaxed, vibrant and space with floor to ceiling views of the trout pond, open pasture, wildlife and epic sunsets in the big Montana sky.

Easy access

The lodge is 20 minutes from downtown Bozeman and approximately ten minutes from the airport.