Bozeman, Montana has some of the best fishing in Montana. Plus, its all close by if you know where to look!
Five of my favorite places that should “pan” out for you are:
1. East Gallatin River N. of Belgrade
The access to this site is a little difficult, but it is worth it. Park your vehicle on the bridge and hop the fence next to the road. The best stretch of the river is to the west. The landowner here is notoriously picky about fisherman leaving the river, so stick below the high water mark and don’t leave the river! The East Gallatin has great fish habitat and plenty of rainbows and browns to keep you busy. Drive two miles north of Belgrade on Dry Creek road until you reach the bridge over the E. Gallatin.
2. Madison River North of Ennis
The Madison River is a blue ribbon river and it deserves it! Any part of the Madison is great for fishing, but the best parts are North of Ennis. You’ll have about 33 miles of river to choose from. The pressure here can be a little heavy at times, but you’ll understand why once you get in, the fishing is great! Try to avoid the section of the Madison River South of Ennis Lake. The lake acts as a giant solar collector in the summer, and causes the water temperature to climb too high to provide ideal conditions for trout.
3. Gallatin River at Gallatin Gateway
This section of the Gallatin is largely ignored by most of the public but still has some decent fishing if you’re willing to work for it! There are many canals around and the river actually branches off in several directions briefly here so you have quite a few spots to choose from. From Four Corners head south to Gallatin Gateway, and turn left into the town. Drive through town until you get to Gallatin Gateway Road, and head south. The road parallels the river for about 4 miles and there are a few good access points along this road.
4. Gallatin River in Gallatin Canyon
Highway 191 South of Bozeman has some of the most scenic river frontages in Montana. The Gallatin River winds its way here for about 30 miles in Gallatin Canyon as you head towards Big Sky. You can pick your access site, because there are plenty of turnoffs for you to get you up close and personal to the river. This section of the Gallatin has cold water and plenty of nice big boulders for giant browns and rainbows to hide behind. You also have the option of continuing on past Big Sky and following the river towards Yellowstone National Park but the Gallatin tends to get cloudy near where the Taylor Fork River dumps its “dirty” load into the Gallatin. The Gallatin also gets pretty washed out during rainstorms and early spring runoffs so check conditions before you head out. Head South of Four Corners on 191 for about 12 miles until you reach the mouth of the canyon.
5. Hyalite Reservoir
A great place to take in the sights and try your luck at lake fishing in Montana is Hyalite Reservoir South of Bozeman. Along the west side of the lake you have easy access and can hike along at nice trail to select a good site to wet your line. This is a great picnic spot (benches provided) so make a day of it and pack a lunch! Hyalite is surrounded by some majestic mountains and has some great fishing to boot. Be sure and check the fishing regulations because they do change. Right off the parking lot is a great place, the water gets really deep here and you never know what is lurking below! Head south of Bozeman on S. 19th for about 8 miles, until you see the sign for the reservoir and turn left for about another six miles.
