Thank you for checking out our most recent upper Madison River fishing report. It is our goal to keep this page updated on a regular basis to serve as a resource for those of you planning your visit to Montana. Please refer to the information below consisting of fishing techniques, fly patterns, Madison River flows and the weather in Ennis, Montana. We encourage you to give us a call for more information not detailed in our fishing report.
Cooler nights and a welcome bump in flows have the Upper Madison in better shape heading into September. The river is clear and fishing well, with terrestrials still providing the bulk of the dry fly action. Hoppers remain important, but ants have been especially effective when fish get picky. Early mornings are still the safest bet, though the cooler weather has started to extend the productive window later into the day. Look beyond the banks as flows remain relatively low. Deeper riffles, buckets, mid-river seams and well-oxygenated pocket water are all holding fish.
Sunny and pleasant conditions are expected today with temperatures around 80°F and relatively light winds. Cooler nights have been helping the river recover considerably compared with the heat we saw earlier in August. A more unsettled pattern arrives Tuesday and Wednesday with increasing clouds, a chance of thunderstorms and stronger winds. Those cloudy periods could provide some very good late-summer fishing, particularly for mayflies and streamers.
Upper Madison River Flows are pretty low as we near the end of summer. Kirby has come up from the mid-700s seen earlier in August, which is a positive change for both fishing and water temperatures. Current water temperature at Kirby was around 54°F early this morning, with excellent clarity.
Late summer terrestrials remain the main event, with hoppers, ants and beetles all in play. Nocturnal stoneflies are still around and can provide good early morning opportunities with larger dries and stonefly nymphs. Caddis remain present, particularly early and late in the day. With cooler, wetter weather beginning to show up, keep an eye out for Blue Winged Olives on cloudy afternoons as we move into September.
A hopper-dropper remains a dependable way to cover water, but don't overlook a smaller ant behind the hopper. Fish have seen plenty of foam by this point in the season, and a #14-16 ant can turn refusals into eats. With the lower flows, concentrate on deeper riffles, buckets and mid-river structure rather than automatically throwing every cast against the bank. Nymphing remains consistent with stoneflies, caddis and smaller mayfly patterns. Streamers are worth fishing early, late or whenever cloud cover arrives. Bright midday sun has generally made the streamer bite tougher.
To simplify things, you can expect Madison River trout to eat just about every classic trout pattern ever tied depending on the time of year. Known for prolific stonefly, caddis, mayfly and midge hatches, the trout of the Madison aren't as picky as other rivers. If you get the size and color right, chances are they'll eat it so long as you have the correct presentation. Certainly there are some local secrets, but if you stock up on the basics you should be just fine!
A 5 or 6 WT fly rod is ideal for most fly fishing situations on the Madison River. The Madison Valley can be a breezy place and with such a wide river it can help to have a little extra power in your cast. We tend to prefer fast action fly rods for this reason. Your fly line is arguably more important than your fly rod though. Half size heavy weight forward floating lines are the ideal compliment to a modern fast action rod.
A slow action 3-5 WT certainly has its time and place on this river, especially during the caddis, midge and BWO hatches. 7 WT rods are commonly fished with short sink-tip fly lines and big streamers. They also come in handy during the salmonfly hatch when you're casting a 3" long foam body dry fly.
Breathable waders and sturdy boots are often a necessity during the spring and fall months. Your best soles for traction are felt with carbide tipped studs. Be aware that many Madison River fly fishing guides do not allow studs in their boats. It is rare that waders are required between June 15-September 15. During these months, some lightweight boots or water shoes/sandals are preferred.
Above all else, quality clothing and accessories for all types of weather are essential for staying comfortable during the day. Montana can throw just about any type of weather your way so be prepared with a well thought out layering system to handle the often cold mornings and warm afternoons.
Join us October 6-10 at a discounted rate for 4 nights & 3 days of guided streamer fishing. We'll fish a variety of water in hopes of landing a trophy. Expect to learn from the best and make a lot of casts!
These openings are rare and don't last long, so be quick to claim them. Just give us a call!
