Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
Fishing Report for the Madison River 8-17
Current Madison River Conditions The Madison River is currently flowing at 897 CFS at Kirby with a temp of 59 degrees. The flow at Varney is 1020 CFS with a temp of 59 degrees. While this looks really good for fishing especially dry fly fishing there are a few things beyond the numbers. The stretch between Ennis and Ennis Lake is heating up in the afternoon. 70 degree temps are not uncommon on the hot days down in the channels. If you are fishing this area please q...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 8-9
Hopper Time The Madison River continues to fish well and is currently flowing at 920 CFS at Kirby and 1050 CFS at Varney. The cool weather and good rain showers of the past week has breathed some life into the river. Fish like water and cool weather and they got both this week. The temps have dropped from the danger zone river wide and the fish are looking up. If we get some more hot dry weather we could go back to the danger zone of temps but for now we are good to go. ...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 7-27
Middle of Summer on the Madison We have come to the middle of the summer season on the Madison River and the fishing is still doing well. The river is currently running at 1050 CFS at Kirby and 1190 CFS at Varney Bridge. The flow is great and is helping keep the temps down. This in turn is saving us the hoot owl restrictions that many other rivers are seeing. Lets keep getting some timely rain storms and a few cool days along with clear cool nights and we sho...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 7-14
Summer Fly Fishing The meat of our summer is here and the Madison River is in great shape. The current flow at Kirby is 1260 CFS and at Varney is 1380 CFS. This is a great level for mid summer. Boats can float anywhere, waders can wade and every fiy fisherman is happy. Temps are starting to creep up but you would not notice with the fish. We need to keep en eye on temps if we stay warm. Most other rivers are on restrictions and we do not want that...
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4th of July Fishing Report for the Madison River
River Conditions The Madison River is in great shape. The folks at the Dam gave us more water and it is about perfect. Current conditions are Kirby Ranch is 965 CFS and Varney is 1200 CFS. We feel this is the perfect level. Lots of access for the foot fisherman and plenty of water to float a boat. If you are in Montana to fish now is the time. Summer is the gift for surviving a Montana winter. Soak up every drop of sunshine, friends, dry fly fishi...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 6-21
Salmon Fly Hatch Yes the salmon fly hatch is going on the Madison River. Big bugs are mid to upper river. We have been having the best luck in the Windy Point and Pallisades area. Yes they moved up the river quickly. 85 degrees the first week or so of June and super low water in the river because they are not releasing from the dam will make this hatch burn hot. Literally it did most of the river in a week. If you are looking to get your big bug fix concentra...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 6-14
Salmon Fly? The million dollar question we get asked in the fly shop every day. Are they here yet? The short answer is yes you can get some good salmon fly fishing on the Madison River. The bulk of the hatch has not gotten going as of yet. There are bugs scattered mostly lower river below varney. The fish are looking at the adults some what. Keep with it. You will find one. They are not rising in every run or every bank but if you stay with it right now it will produce. We l...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 5-14-25
Runoff We are seeing runoff conditions from the warm weather last week. Most of the river and all of the creeks are running high and off colored. This week with the cool weather rain and snow up high we should see a drop in some of the creeks melt and the river decrease as well. This might be a darn good window to fish. Currently the flows are 1100 CFS at Kirby and 1810 at Varney. Not super high by historical standards but still up from the winter flows. Also we have seen the creeks...
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Fishing Report for the Madison 4-24-25
The River Well things are really happening around here right now. If you are in town fishing you know how good it has been. Hungry fish, cold water and nice weather has made this spring really good . As long as the weather continues to be stable we should see good fishing. That is the rule of spring. Good weather good fishing. The Madison is currently at 965 CFS at Kirby and 1150 CFS at Varney. Temps have been hitting that magic 50 degree number in the afternoon. The first perso...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 10-12-24
The River Currently the Madison River is sitting at 809 CFS at Kirby Ranch and a temp of 50 degrees. It is 1010 CFS at Varney Bridge and a temp of 50 as well. The Madison River is in good shape and low and clear. We should get a little more water back into the river this week when the larger ditches that pull water are closed. This should add a few more CFS to each section. This is good as getting around in a boat from 8 Mile to Burnt Tree is challenging at this low level. Overa...
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