Hyalite is a high mountain reservoir up the canyon south of Bozeman, ringed by peaks and ice-locked half the year, holding cutthroat, Arctic grayling, and brook trout in cold, clear water. It's a short drive from town but it fishes like backcountry — float a tube along the timbered shoreline, work a small leech or a chironomid, and enjoy fish that don't see a lot of flies. The grayling are a treat and worth handling with care. The season is short up here, hemmed in by snow at both ends, so you take the high-country summer when it comes.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
41% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
S 5 km/h
Calm
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for cutthroat trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for cutthroat trout
When
The short high-country summer, June through September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
4 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Hyalite Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedHyalite Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Hyalite is a high mountain reservoir up the canyon south of Bozeman, ringed by peaks and ice-locked half the year, holding cutthroat, Arctic grayling, and brook trout in cold, clear water. It's a short drive from town but it fishes like backcountry — float a tube along the timbered shoreline, work a small leech or a chironomid, and enjoy fish that don't see a lot of flies. The grayling are a treat and worth handling with care. The season is short up here, hemmed in by snow at both ends, so you take the high-country summer when it comes.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Hyalite Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Hyalite Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutThird Saturday of May → Last day of November
Hyalite Reservoir · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Montana stillwater regulations — check FWP
- Handle Arctic grayling with care.
Hyalite Reservoir
Google Places
Hyalite is a high mountain reservoir up the canyon south of Bozeman, ringed by peaks and ice-locked half the year, holding cutthroat, Arctic grayling, and brook trout in cold, clear water.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
41% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
S 5 km/h
Calm
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
69%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp25%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for cutthroat trout
When
The short high-country summer, June through September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Montana stillwater regulations — check FWP
- Handle Arctic grayling with care.
Directions
About this water
Hyalite is a high mountain reservoir up the canyon south of Bozeman, ringed by peaks and ice-locked half the year, holding cutthroat, Arctic grayling, and brook trout in cold, clear water. It's a short drive from town but it fishes like backcountry — float a tube along the timbered shoreline, work a small leech or a chironomid, and enjoy fish that don't see a lot of flies. The grayling are a treat and worth handling with care. The season is short up here, hemmed in by snow at both ends, so you take the high-country summer when it comes.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- TroutThird Saturday of May → Last day of November
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Hyalite is a high mountain reservoir up the canyon south of Bozeman, ringed by peaks and ice-locked half the year, holding cutthroat, Arctic grayling, and brook trout in cold, clear water. It's a short drive from town but it fishes like backcountry — float a tube along the timbered shoreline, work a small leech or a chironomid, and enjoy fish that don't see a lot of flies. The grayling are a treat and worth handling with care. The season is short up here, hemmed in by snow at both ends, so you take the high-country summer when it comes.
Fishing better nearby · 5
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- Yellowstone River42 kmBrown trout · Rainbow trout · Cutthroat trout80
- Gardner River57 kmCutthroat trout · Brown trout · Rainbow trout80
- Gallatin River21 kmRainbow trout · Brown trout
- Paradise Valley Spring Creeks31 kmRainbow trout · Brown trout