Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
Madison River Fishing Report for 3/20/2021
Spring fishing on the Madison River is off to a good start with the official start to spring. As long as the water temps stay above 40 degrees we should see good fishing continue and in fact get better by the day. Remember there are lots of fish getting ready to spawn this spring. If you see fish spawning and Redds pleas stay away from them and let them do their thing. Our future fish depend on it. Also if you know where fish are spawning please do not fish in the pool below them. Th...
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Madison River Fishing Report 3/12/2021
Weather It certainly feels like spring here in the Trout Capitol of the USA. The Madison River has been struck with Mid-High 40 degree weather for the past week and a half and that trend doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon with high 40's projected through next Sunday. The fishing has been hot as of late with these consistent temps. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv?site_no=06038800 Nymphing Nymphing is the name of the game right now, with fish still podded up in slow pools. Fish...
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Madison River Fishing Report 3/5/2021
Although this week has felt like Spring, winter is still in full swing over here on the Upper Madison River. Luckily for us that means plenty of elbow room on the river. This can be one of our favorite times of the year to fish solely due to the solitude that can be had on the river. As far as fishing goes cold water pushes trout into deep slow runs often found behind boulders and elbow bends. Fish stack up in places like these and pods can often be found in the hundreds. Whats Working Fishi...
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Madison River Fishing Report for 3/1/2021
Winter in the Madison Valley is a fickle thing for the fly fisher. One week there is great weather and the fish are up eating midges ever afternoon and the next week it is 30 below zero. We have seen both in the last while. It looks like for the upcoming week or so we will at least have some fishable days. If you get one of these days when the weather is good and there is little wind think midges. Those tiny and shiny nymphs will keep you bent all afternoon. Trail them behind a gi...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 9-4-2020
The fly fishing on the Madison River continues to impress. Warm summer like days are keeping the hopper fishing out of hand. Think mid day and on and float what ever hopper you like. Trail it with an ant and you have a deadly combo. Lots of big fish up eating and will continue as long as the warm weather stays. Mornings drop a nymph like a lightning bug or prince or do the bobber thing. Lots to be excited about for the Labor day weekend on the Madison River and Ennis. Great sale Satu...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 8-14-2020
The Madison River continues to impress this summer. Great flows in the river. 1500 at Varney bridge is more then normal water flows. In fact it could use a little drop to help the center of the river fishing. Hoppers and ants are the game right now. They get working about 11 in the morning and you should see good dry fly fishing after that. In the mornings we have been throwing the old Madison River Bunny and a bead. All in all good times on the Madison. We are seeing better hopper f...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 8-2-2020
August has arrived and the Madison River continue to impress with its consistent fishing. Hoppers, ants and nocturnal stones are river wide and making fish look up during the heat of the day. Mayflies are around and will take fish in the mornings. Caddis in the evenings. All is good here on the Madison. If your thinking about fishing river flows are great about 1400 CFS. A guy can float anywhere and wading options abound. We always considered about 1200-1000 the perfect Madison Rive...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 7-13-2020
Summer has arrived on the Madison River and the living is easy. The river is in great shape for fishing with plenty of water about 1200cfs at varney and it is cold and clear. You can float anywhere, and the wade fisherman have plenty of edge water accessible. This is prime summer fishing. Add to that lots and lots of bugs and you can see why the living is easy. The salmon flies are gone upriver and you can still find a few above the west fork but the big bug madness is gone for anothe...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 7-6-2020
Fishing continues to be really good on the Madison River. Salmon flies are still around and near the top end of the river, caddis are everywhere, PMD can be found mid day, goldens are starting, yellow sallies are river wide and there are even a few grey drakes around. All good stuff for the dry fly angler. In fact it might just be some of the best dry fly fishing of the year. Traffic around the holiday weekend was busy but now that we are past it expect less people on the river. If you a bobb...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 6-9-2020
The river is on the drop and good fishing on the Madison River is right around the corner. Yes you can go out right now and pick the pockets for a few fish but widespread good fishing on the Madison is close. The river is on the way down. Two reasons. First the discharge out of the dam has decreased. They upped discharge to get the mandated flushing flow. Now that is over discharge should decrease every day and hopes of filling lake for summer water. The second is snow melt. We lost a b...
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