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.
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.
Meet Our Big Sky, Montana Fly Fishing Guides
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
Fishing Guide
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why? Any day on the river is a great day.
- Favorite Fly? The ones that are working.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? Being a guide has given me so many great memories from the smile on someone’s face when they catch their first fish ever to the old man who is just so happy that he is still can go fly fishing.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? The people I meet.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana?Depends on the mood some are just fun to go to and others are great for when I sneak off with the wife for a night out.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? There’s other hobbies who new.
Trey Brassch
Fishing Guide
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why?Single angler full day trips are my preference. Learning curve is cut considerably and catch rates higher.
- Favorite Fly? Whatever they're choking on that day.
- Favorite Fishing Memory?Rainy days on the Clearwater, a screaming Hardy reel with a wild Steelhead kicking my ass.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you?Consistently exceeding client expectations and teaching.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana?Feast in Bozeman.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? Cooking
Josh Berry
Fishing Guide
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why?Float trip on the Madison. Can’t beat the scenery and it’s loaded with fish.
- Favorite Fly? Tommy Lynch’s Drunk & Disorderly.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? Tie between my two fly caught Musky in Wisconsin, and my first Roosterfish on the Baja Peninsula.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? Being on the water every day to see the ebbs and flows of the entire river ecosystem.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana?Riverhouse Grill in Big Sky, and Stacey’s in Gateway. Can’t beat the vibe of both places.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? Turkey hunting.
Carlye Luft
Fishing Guide
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why?Having fun, appreciating nature, and achieving our clients fishing trip goals, makes for an incredible experience on any of our fishing trips.
- Favorite Fly? Black Pats Rubberlegs
- Favorite Fishing Memory? 82 year old Judy's epic roll cast into mid-river on the Upper Madison, landing her a beautiful 21 inch Brown Trout.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? For many of our clients, trout fishing in Montana is a once in a lifetime experience. Whether the goal is to catch a bunch of fish or to slow the pace of life to appreciate the land, and learn something new, it is all rewarding to me for our clients to have an enjoyable outting.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana? Little Star Cafe in Bozeman.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? Writing and playing beautiful music.
Garrett Kemberling
Fishing Guide
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why?Float trips are my favorite. They allow anglers and guides to see a large variety of water in many of our stunning Montana valleys.
- Favorite Fly? Whichever one is working.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? Catching my first permit on the fly.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? Sharing what my passions with others and spending most of my time outdoors
- Best place to grab a bite to eat in Montana? The Riverhouse
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? Golf
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
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why?Definitely the full day float trip. For beginners it’s a great space to learn the basics of fly fishing. For more advanced anglers the boat lets you approach water in a more effective and efficient way.
- Favorite Fly? I have a lot of favorites, but I’ve always been a sucker for big salmon flys. I love watching a fish rise on a big dry fly.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? I’ve had the chance to fish all over the world and it’s hard to pick just one favorite. I recently had the opportunity to fish for stripers in the northeast. Watching 30 inch fish eat top water poppers is something that will be engrained in my mind forever.What makes guiding rewarding for you?Nothing beats taking someone out for their first time and watching them fall in love with the sport. Catching big brown trout is a close second though.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana? River house is the best spot in big sky. They have some great food and you can always count on running into a few locals at the bar.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? I’m an avid waterfowl hunter, if I’m not fishing in the fall I’m probably sitting in a blind somewhere waiting for the birds to start flying.
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
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why? I really enjoy going to the upper Madison for a full day walk wade. It’s such an incredible fishery and provides just enough of a challenge for anglers to really perfect their skills!
- Favorite Fly? A Juju B midge of course.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? Landing a giant rainbow in South America.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? I love seeing my clients succeed and surprise themselves. Trout fishing is so special to me and it’s so cool I get to share that with people.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana? My favorite is the Mint in Belgrade, MT. That would be my last meal, no questions.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing?
I enjoy spending my free time on horses! Trail riding in the mountains of Montana or team roping in the Arizona desert.
MICHAEL PATTERSON
FISHING GUIDE
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why? The full-day float trip is my favorite for sure. Having the ability to fish any part of the river using a drift boat is unmatched. You're sure to have a great day on the boat, whether it be by catching fish or taking in the beautiful scenery throughout the section you float.
- Favorite Fly? The flutterbug is my favorite fly. There aren't many times when you can throw a dry fly the size of a Snickers bar and have success on it. The salmon fly hatch is the exception to that. Watching a trout eat a dry fly like a great white shark eats a seal is one of the coolest experiences I've had fishing in Montana.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? My favorite fishing memory is definitely the first fish I caught in Montana after I moved to Bozeman. I was fishing in Hyalite Creek with a dry fly and caught a six-inch rainbow. It may not have been the biggest fish I've caught, but it remains one of my favorites.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? For me, the most rewarding aspect of guiding is teaching people about the ecosystem we are fishing. From the bugs and fish in the river to the animals in the surrounding area, I love being able to share with people how unique the species and habitat in Montana are. It is always my goal to teach people about the river they are fishing and the species in it and increase their appreciation for it.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana? The Buck in Four Corners, just outside of Bozeman. Great pizza and and cold beer. Chances are you can find me there after a day on the river.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing?
Ice Hockey, I am a diehard Rangers fan and play in the Bozeman adult league almost year-round. It's a great way to spend the winter when it's too cold for the river, although for me unless the river's frozen it's warm enough to fish.
SAM ROWE
FISHING GUIDE
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why? Our "Three Rivers in Three Days" trip is hard to beat. Wading the Gallatin the first day is perfect to either shake off the rust or dial in your fishing with tons of opportunities at healthy freestone trout. Next day floating the Madison you get to float one of the most scenic rivers in the state with chances at trophy Browns and Rainbows. The third day to finish things off we float the Yellowstone with fun dry fly fishing and chances at some giants.
- Favorite Fly? Depends on the river, but when I'm out fishing for fun I'm usually throwing a big streamer. Drunk & Disorderly or a Peanut Envy tops the list. That being said, my favorite fly to guide clients with would be a large dry like a Flutterbug or Chubby depending on the time of year.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? Too many to list but catching a 9 foot Sailfish down in Costa Rica with my dad is towards the top of the list.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? There is a lot that makes guiding flyfishing the best job out there. Good conversations, being able to show people new rivers, and watching people catch big fish, Definitely all get me excited to do it again the next day.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana? Hard to beat stopping in at Follow Yer' Nose BBQ in Paridise Valley after a float on the Yellowstone River.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing?
I'd say fishing takes up about 90% of my time but come November hunting takes priority.
PARKER WRIGHT
FISHING GUIDE
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why?Upper Madison full day. This trip offers an excellent experience with quality fish, picturesque views, and a proper amount of time to dial in your fly-fishing skills.
- Favorite Fly? Pat’s Rubberlegs with a couple variants added in.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? Too hard to pick. They all uniquely hold a special place in my heart and can’t be recreated.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? The most rewarding part of guiding for me is seeing my clients’ pure enjoyment come from a special environment that Montana offers. Beautiful fish, country, rivers and great company will be sure to please my guests on the water, as well as myself!
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana?Stacey’s Steakhouse or Seven Sushi.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? Hunting with good friends and chasing birds with my favorite dog, Jase.
Tommy Flitton
Fishing Guide
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why?Obviously the full-day float! Fishing out of a boat is a magical experience. Whether I’m nymphing, throwing big bugs at the bank or stripping streamers, it is always a good time. And who wants to hike around on rocks when you can relax in the boat and have the ability to fish any part of the river?! Seems like a no brainer to me.
- Favorite Fly? Whatever fresh hotness is coming off my vice!
- Favorite Fishing Memory? My first tarpon on the fly in Belize. The entire scenario was just too cool and I was left speechless.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you? Fishing in Montana is often a bucket list experience and being able to provide a positive and fulfilling day on the river is something I really appreciate. I love making new memories and meaningful connections with others and guiding is the perfect medium to make that happen.
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana? The most important question of them all! I love stopping at the Gravel Bar in Ennis. It feels like the perfect place to laugh about all the fish you didn’t set the hook on or brag about the monster you finally landed! It also helps that that the burger and fries are pretty good.
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? If I’m not fishing, there’s a really good chance it is snowing and I am skiing. I’m a big time skier! I also love chasing birds in the field behind my dog and some good friends.
Zachary Yoder
Fishing Guide
- Which trip offering is your favorite and why? I cannot pick a favorite. They all offer something different and unique!
- Favorite Fly? Anything big and articulated.
- Favorite Fishing Memory? The constant progression through the years of fly fishing with my friends.
- What makes guiding rewarding for you?Watching bobbers go down! Then seeing peoples face light up when there is a fish on the end of the line!
- Best Place to grab a bite to eat in Montana?Riverhouse
- Favorite hobby outside of fishing? Playing cards with my family!
Daniel huck
Fishing Guide
- Favorite River:
- Favorite Fly:
- Favorite Place for an after-fishing cocktail:
- Best Fish Ever:
- Favorite Place to eat in Montana:
- What you splurge on:
- Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be:
Ryan Richardson
Fishing Guide
- Favorite River:
- Favorite Fly:
- Favorite Place for an after-fishing cocktail:
- Best Fish Ever:
- Favorite Place to eat in Montana:
- What you splurge on:
- Other than fishing for GRG, where else he'd rather be:
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
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.
Start your fly fishing adventure today and explore the montana waters with our team
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Outfitter: Michael Donaldson, Montana License #36853 GRG operates under a special use permit with the Custer Gallatin National Forest and is an equal opportunity provider.