Uncategorized
The Eddy Line: The greatest fly-fishing river in the world
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Patrick Straub EBS Fishing Columnist
I’m often asked what my favorite river or place to fish is. It’s both an easy question to answer (“The river I’m fishing at the time”) and a hard one (“the Yellowstone, because it is a wild, temperamental freestone river”). However, if I’m forced to narrow the list, it’s an easy task.
New Zealand is the land of heli-fishing, hobbits, and brown trout so wary they all have nicknames. Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia have diversity, big trout, asados, and Malbec served in half-gallon glasses.
Alaska’s landscape is as grand as it gets, and its waters hold a variety of species of big fish. But Montana’s waters still delight the most traveled angler, and here I’m giving a serious shout-out to the Gallatin River as the greatest fly-fishing river in the world. Here’s why:
Wild, free flowing and beautiful. The Gallatin begins in Yellowstone National Park and flows unimpeded for nearly 100 miles before it joins the Jefferson and Madison to create the Missouri River. During runoff it flows fast and high – this is not a quiet, dam-controlled river. In the first 60 miles, mountains frame the river, and the last 40 miles are dominated by cottonwoods and expansive views of the Gallatin Valley.
Wild or native fish. Native westslope cutthroat trout, as well as wild rainbow and brown trout, can be caught on any good drift. The river is also home to native Rocky Mountain whitefish. These four species ensure an angler a good chance of reward, but if not, the scenery is a substitute if the fishing is slow.
Accessibility. The river flows through Yellowstone and Gallatin National Forest for most of its run, allowing for an array of public access. Once the river leaves Gallatin Canyon, access points are more spread out, but Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has done an excellent job of providing several fishing-access sites.
A year-round fishery. The Gallatin is not a large river, and therefore fishing it on foot is most effective. Coupled with accessibility and not requiring a boat, the river can be easily fished any month of the year. Around the Big Sky area several springs create ice-free water even during the coldest winters, and for locals the perfect day is skiing in the morning and fishing in the afternoon. Many consider this the best day ever.
Variety of water and habitats. The upper reaches near the source have willow-lined banks, some of which are deeply undercut, offering a safe haven for some surprisingly large brown trout. Here, anglers willing to hike can be rewarded. The canyon section near Big Sky is chocked with sections of pocket water, deep pools and fishy runs. As the river leaves the canyon near Storm Castle and heads to Gallatin Gateway, riffled corners and longer runs dominate. From Manhattan to the river’s mouth north of Three Forks, the river becomes a broad prairie stream with many channels and the potential for a few trophy trout.
Hatches. A dry-fly angler will find delight in the Gallatin. Midges are abundant in February and March. Blue-winged olives may appear in March along with some early season black stoneflies. Late April and early May will see caddis in the valley sections, but cloudy water during spring runoff may prevent fishing. As soon as runoff wanes, salmon and stoneflies hatch providing exciting fishing with large dry flies. Summer brings caddis, spruce moths and tricos, and late summer means fishing with grasshoppers, ants and beetles.
Just when you think the river has hatched itself out, fall mayflies like blue winged olives, pseudo-mayflies, and October caddis appear. Even if the fish are not rising to the surface, abundant hatches result in feeding fish.
I’ve traveled and fished throughout the world, but believe Montana is the best destination for fly fishing – and in The Treasure State, the Gallatin tops the list. However, my declaration of the greatest fly fishing river in the world is not without bias – I fished the river as a boy and today am fortunate to take my daughter fishing in its clear and cold water.
Pat Straub is the author of six books, including “The Frugal Fly Fisher,” “Montana On The Fly,” and “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fly Fishing.” He and his wife own Gallatin River Guides in Big Sky.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716