Professional Guided Fishing Trips Big Sky, MT

Gallatin River Guides - Over 30 Years In Business

We Love What We Do And Want To Share Our Passion With You!

We love to explore the fish filled river of Montana and are constantly improving our fly fishing skills....and show you exactly how to catch these wild Montana trout.


Fly fishing is our passion and we’re dedicated to bringing this passion to all of our eager, fly fishing clients. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran we want to bring you on an adventure down the Montana rivers. 


When it comes to fly fishing guided tours, Gallatin River Guides is the real deal. We can show you all the best spots near Big Sky and Bozeman and bring you on an unforgettable fly fishing journey. 


If you’re looking for your next big challenge when it comes to fly fishing then our team is here for you. Because of our location in Big Sky, our guides work throughout the year, regardless of the weather. This means our team of talented guides log more days on the water than any other fly fishing guides in Montana.


Our expertise allows us to work with any skill level, offering new tips and techniques whenever we can. We know the waters of Montana, so let our team take you to all corners of the state in search of new fishing horizons.


Contact us today and join us anywhere fish eat flies.

TALK TO US TODAY!

Meet Our Big Sky, Montana Fly Fishing Guides


Mike Donaldson - Owner Outfitter -  Fishing Guide

Mike Donaldson

Owner & Outfitter

  • Favorite river: With all the great rivers in our area it would be hard to pick just one. They are all fabulous and unique in their own way. If I had to choose it would probably be the Madison River with it's beautiful views and trophy trout.
  • Favorite fly: My favorite hatch of the year is the Spruce Moth hatch on the Gallatin River.
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: The back porch of Gallatin River Guides!
  • Best fishing memory: Fishing the Hexagenia hatch in the middle of the night on the AuSable River with my brother Nick and my dad when we were little kids
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: The Land of Magic Steakhouse
  • What I splurge on: Flies, Fishing Gear, and Clothing
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Probably somewhere warm fishing saltwater or on the west coast fishing Steelhead.


Drew Hay

Manager & Guide

  • Favorite River: As long as there is water, good friends, and fish eating, the where isn't the important part
  • Favorite Fly: Something big, flashy, and tasty
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: You'll find me at Fiesta Mexicana: Big portions, friendly staff, and great prices
  • Best fish ever: You wouldn't believe me anyways
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: York Bar: Best burgers you can find
  • What you splurge on: I tend to spend all my money on hunting gear and flies
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Chasing Browns or chasing elk
Bob Merryman

Bob Merryman

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: Which everyone I'm on at the time. I love them all for different reasons and dislike so few. 
  • Favorite Fly: My favorite fly of course is the one that is working at that time. If I had to choose it would be a home tie BWO emerger.
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: Budweiser cocktail on the tailgate of my truck after a day of fishing!
  • Best fishing memory: I have so many great memories associated with fishing I can't pick one. Guiding has allowed me to meet lifetime friends to continue making memories with. 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: By a campfire under Montana's big sky!
  • What you splurge on: My wonderful wife and daughter!
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else would you rather be: Exploring the world - fly rod in hand!
Trey Brassch

Trey Brassch

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: The Upper Madison tops the list, but the Bighole in the spring is hard to beat.
  • Favorite Fly: $3 Dip and anything BIG, nasty and articulated.
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: Melrose Bar in the spring, Buck's T-4 during the summer, and The Edge Bar & Grill in the fall.
  • Best fish ever: The last steelhead I landed
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Grizzly Barin Cameron, Montana.
  • What you splurge on: Spey rods, click and pawl reels, and anything steelhead
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Summer in SW Montana are a fisherman's paradise, but I'd always rather be swinging flies for anadromous fish.
Josh Berry - Fishing Guide

Josh Berry

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: Gallatin, no doubt. It's tough to think of a more perfect trout river.
  • Favorite Fly: Hare's Ear for a nymph. X-Caddis for a dry. Wooly Bugger for a streamer. In reality there are way too many to choose from.
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: Either my back porch or The Broken Spoke.
  • Best fishing memory: Each one is special in its own way, but there are two that I will never forget. My first steelhead caught on the swing, and the first cutthroat I caught after moving out West.
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Stacey's Old Faithful Bar and Steakhouse in Gallatin Gateway.
  • What you splurge on: Flies, fly rods, fly reels, fly tying. Nordic skis. Backpacking gear. Cold beer.
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else would you rather be: Travelling the world to fish new water and catch new fish.
Carlye Luft - Fishing Guide

Carlye Luft

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: This is such a tough choice! I enjoy any river that holds a fish but if I had to choose a spot to go back to, it would be the Upper Madison River in Montana.
  • Favorite Fly: I can rock a Grannom Caddis like nobody’s business. It’s my go-to fly for when I find myself being in my head too much and need to simplify things. I also love to watch a trout hit a Purple Haze and the wild strike on a classic black Wooly Bugger.
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: Beehive Basin Brewery in Big Sky, Montana
  • Best fish ever: My first fish at 4 years old - a tiny Bullhead out of the exotic rivers of Wisconsin. 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Ted's Montana Grill 
  • What you splurge on: Fly Fishing Swag!
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else she'd rather be: My first choice is to be any place where the fishing is good and the scenery is even better. Ideally, back home on the lakes of Northern Wisconsin. Mountain Biking is my second passion so when my body feels good and the weather is right, you can find me on the single track at Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana or Targhee Resort in Wyoming.
Garrett Kemberling - Fishing Guide Bozeman MT

Garrett Kemberling

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: The Upper Madison
  • Favorite Fly: Whichever one is working, Or something big and meaty! 
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: An ice cold beer at the boat ramp is hard to beat! 
  • Best fish ever: First permit on the fly in Belize 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Gallatin Riverhouse and Grill
  • What you splurge on: Flies, rods, and more flies!
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Chasing permit on the flats in Belize
Garrett Burke - Fishing Guide

Garrett Burke

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: Madison River 
  • Favorite Fly: Everyday is different! Nymph's, Streamers, and Dries! 
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: McAllister Inn and Steakhouse
  • Best fish ever: My parents first trout on the fly rod in the beautiful state of Montana! 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Seven Sushi
  • What I splurge on: Fishing and hunting equipment
  • Other than GRG: Enjoying Montana's woods and water with my dog and wife. 
Hunter McPhillips - Fishing Guide

Hunter McPhillips

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: The Gallatin. It is in my backyard and feels like home to me.
  • Favorite Fly: I love a small green zonker.
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: The Riverhouse grill
  • Best fish ever: The first bonefish I stalked and landed in Harbor Island, Bahamas. 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Pompey’s Grill, in Three Forks or The Cabin, in Big Sky. I can’t choose!
  • What you splurge on: If it’s not fishing gear, it’s probably skis or snowmobile parts.
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Bimini in the Bahamas. Chasing bones on the flats and permit behind the ray. 
Dane Choat - Fishing Guide

Dane Choat

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: The St. Joe river in Idaho is pretty special to me or the Madison is hard to beat. 
  • Favorite Fly: Mini Dungeon, 3$ Dip, Thunder Thighs 
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: The tailgate of my truck with good views and good people. 
  • Best fish ever: Probably the one that got away! Lol 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Dave’s sushi 
  • What you splurge on: My two son’s & fishing gear of course. 
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: I have a long list of places to see and get a line wet! 
Brian Weisbord - Fishing Guide

Brian Weisbord

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: The Upper Madison, without a doubt. Have a soft spot for Hot Creek outside of Mammoth Lakes in California as well
  • Favorite Fly: Perdigon (don't tell anyone I'm a Euro nerd), $3 dip and Chubby Chernobyl’s when the time comes
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: The Riverhouse, can’t beat the view or the BBQ
  • Best fish ever: Any of the ones that destroyed my hopper last season
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Thai Basil, love some good Curry and Pad Thai
  • What you splurge on: Good coffee, good tippet, and anything euro nymphing
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Anywhere in the salt! Grew up fishing saltwater. Can’t beat a day on the beach after a season in the Mountains
Connor Rodriguez - Fishing Guide

Connor Rodriguez

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite river: Gallatin for sure, it’s my bread and butter
  • Favorite fly: What ever is catching fish I’m not picky
  • After fish cocktails: I’m either at the crystal or lost somewhere in the Barmuda triangle
  • Best fish memory: Fishing for arctic grayling in Alaska. Couldn’t tell you how many we ended up actually catching.
  • Favorite place to eat: Open range in Bozeman
  • What you splurge on: Gear, travel and good beer
  • Where else I wanna be: lost in the mountains whether it’s for a few hours or a few days.
Carson Keller - Fishing Guide

Carson Keller

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: Madison River
  • Favorite Fly: Any midge size 22 or smaller
  • Favorite place for an after-fishing cocktail: A nice dirty tailgate, preferably out of cell service
  • Best fish ever: 8.5 lbs. Largemouth Bass caught on a frog popper on a 7’ 3wt. rod back home in Texas 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: A fisherman’s lunch in the front seat of a drift boat
  • What you splurge on: I’ve been known to splurge with a nice river-side nap now and again
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Backpacking around in the mountains exploring mother nature’s beauty
Lindsay Koenig- Fishing Guide

Lindsay Koenig

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: The Gallatin, as that’s what I grew up fishing!
  • Favorite Fly: Juju Baetis, I only named my dog after it.
  • Favorite place for after-fishing cocktail: Montana Ale Works for their Huckleberry Mule.
  • Best fishing ever: A 26 inch rainbow trout landed in Chile, after sight fishing to it with a micro chubby. It’s the best for other reasons aside from that too!
  • Favorite Place to eat in Montana: Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Bozeman! And the Copper Whiskey Bar.
  • What I splurge on: On my pets!
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: On the water with my Dad and the dogs.
Michael Patterson - Fishing Guide

Michael Patterson

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: While I love all the rivers around here, the Deerfield River In Massachusetts will always be special to me since it is where I learned how to fly fish. 
  • Favorite Fly: The mighty mouse, but any mouse will do. I don't get to mouse as much as I would like, but it might be one of the most fun ways of fishing I've ever experienced. 
  • Favorite place for an after-fishing cocktail: Getting home after a long day on the water and having a drink with your buddies is pretty tough to beat. 
  • Best fish ever: I didn't even land it, but the first striper I hooked on a fly is pretty hard to beat. 
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Pickle Barrel in Bozeman, a fresh take on an old classic, the Philly Cheesesteak. 
  • What you splurge on: Mostly flies, but other than that I am a huge collector of koozies, so any time I see a cool koozie I have to have it. 
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: I love playing hockey, so I'm on the ice as much as possible. It's a perfect sport for me because I can just glide, instead of constantly moving my feet. 
Sam Rowe - Fishing Guide

Sam Rowe

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: Toss-up between the Beaverhead and The Mo
  • Favorite Fly: good ole TJ Hooker
  • Favorite place for an after-fishing cocktail: Beers at Follow your Nose BBQ
  • Best fish ever: Sailfish down in Costa Rica
  • Favorite place to eat in Montana: Prime Rib night at Montana City Grill
  • What you splurge on: Unnecessary Ski and Snowmobile gear
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: Powder day at Cooke City or Japow
Parker Wright - Fishing Guide

Parker WRight

Fishing Guide

  • Favorite River: The Gallatin was the first river I fished in Montana, therefore it feels like home to me. No shortage of spectacular views and beautiful fish!
  • Favorite Fly: Coffee colored Pat's Rubber Legs with one or two small modifications.
  • Favorite Place for an after-fishing cocktail: I love the Saloon style bar and restaurant in Gallatin Gateway called Stacey's Steakhouse. Catch me sippin' on a cold PBR.
  • Best Fish Ever: I landed a 17.5lb King Salmon on Lake Michigan trolling with a big, bulky, purple J-Plug.
  • Favorite Place to eat in Montana: Sidewinders in Bozeman. Great options all over the board!
  • What you splurge on: Hunting and fishing gear, good food and beer, and my Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Jase. 
  • Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be: I'd be chasing Pheasants and Bobwhite Quail with my dog Jase in my home state of Nebraska. 

My Favorite Guide Isn't Listed - What Do I Do?


All the guides listed here are our “core guides” and work mostly for Gallatin River Guides. Most fly fishing guides in Montana are independent contractors and don’t work for a singular company. 


We love to work with a wide range of talented anglers and guides so when all our core group guides are booked up we have a list of extremely qualified fishing guides and outfitters to work with so you can still enjoy the Montana waters. 


We personally vet all of our Montana fly fishing guides so no matter what guide you work with you’ll always get the adventure of a lifetime!

Reviews We've Reeled In Over The Years

My husband and I had a great time fishing with Gallatin River Guides, and our guide Connor! He had his work cut out for him as neither of us had ever been fly fishing! He was very personable, knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. We ended up landing 5 fish! We travel to Big Sky often and plan on fly fishing again with Gallatin River Guides and will for sure request Connor.

Jackie A.

The Gallatin crew hosted my friends and I for a guided trip in early mid-August in Big Sky. When I called to inquire about 14 guys getting a guided trip on the river, I thought I would be laughed off the phone. Especially since it was a week or two before the trip. But they could not have been more accommodating and easy to work with. Great pricing and the fact they loan you all the gear makes it a no brainer for folks looking to fly fish the Gallatin. I had never fly-fished before and even managed to catch a few, mostly thanks to our expert guide Carson.

Daniel M.

Great morning on the river with Gallatin River Guides. Easy booking and they were able to accommodate relatively last minute. My guide Tommy was super personable and knowledgeable about fly fishing in general and the Gallatin River in particular. After a slow start we ended up with 5 fish on the half day. Highly recommend and will be booking with them again next time I'm in Big Sky.

Jeff S.

Gallatin River Guides is a very professional and fun guide service! If you want to catch some fish definitely go give them a call! My dad and I caught 9 Rainbow trout in total. Our Guide James was really knowledgeable about the river and was very passionate about it. 100% would recommend to anyone who wants to have a great experience while staying in Montana! No experience is required.

Drew H.

Lindsay was fantastic! She's very passionate about fly fishing and took us to a gorgeous spot where my wife and I each caught about a 14" rainbow, in addition to a number of others! She's very professional and incredibly fun to be around. The guides at the building were very effective in sizing the two of us up with the right equipment, waders, and boots. A must-do for anybody visiting the Bozeman area!

Robert K.

It was our 6th and final day in Big Sky, Montana. Being from Texas and confident in bass fishing. I wanted to fish for trout, but never used a fly rod. So I went and bought a cheap spinning rig from Walmart in Bozeman. I wasn’t confident in how to set this rig up to catch trout. I went to Gallatin River Guides and asked for help. They welcomed me with open arms set my rig up with an indicator lead by a sinking fly and trailed by a nymph. He even gave me pointers on how to identify the best spots. I bought a couple more items and I was off. I caught 10 fish that day. 3 white fish and 7 trout! Thank you, to the gentlemen from San Antonio that help me out Sunday morning!!

Bobby C.

What a wonderful day my husband Chuck and I had on our first fly fishing experience. GRG is a top notch organization. From booking the trip, to arriving/prepping and then meeting our guide, it couldn't have gone smoother. Our guide, Will, was patient in teaching us and was insistent in finding us a great place to fish without other distractions, Within 10 minutes, I caught a 18" rainbow trout! He instructed him while I reeled it in myself without having a clue as to what I was doing. Thank you GRGs and Will for making this the first of many future fly fishing trips!!

Kim H.

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