The weekend has begun and it is time to get out and go fishing. July is almost over and the dog days of august are just around the corner. Unlike other rivers in Montana that have been suffering from low water and high water temps lately the Madison is still holding strong . The Madison river is flowing a little above average for this time of year and with the cooler air temps we have experienced the past few days the water temps have stayed between 60-68 degrees. With the water levels above average for this time of year float anglers have been enjoying the whole river with still plenty of water to float. Wade anglers will have more places to fish as the water continues to drop but valley garden and three dollar bridge are still your best bet. The hatches have started to wane but we are still seeing PMD’s, Caddis, yellow sallies, nocturnal stones and spruce moths. With the hatches slowing down it time to start thinking about terrestrials, grasshoppers and ants should not be overlooked. The nymphing is as strong as always and streamers are starting to produce fish. The fish are starting to become educated, 4 and 5x fluorocarbon will be your best friend for the rest of the summer. I would concentrate your fishing in the mornings and late evenings for the best results because things can get a little slow during the hottest part of the day. So if your favorite river is on fishing restrictions head on out to the upper Madison you will not be disappointed!
