Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
Fishing Report Upper Madison River 7-20-2015
The Madison River continues to fish well thanks to some cooler days and a few showers. This has kept the water temps in the safe range and the fish active. It has been busy out on the Upper Madison with some of the other rivers like the Big Hole and Lower Madison on Hoot Owl. These restrictions are just lifted so we should start to see things a little quiet. The Yellowstone has also been pumping mud frequently so we have been seeing our share of Yellowstone guides making the trip. The...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison River 7-13-2015
With the cooler weather and frequent almost daily showers the Madison River is still producing day in and day out. There are daily hatches of caddis, PMD, nocturnal stone, and yellow sallies. Our best fishing has still been getting up early and hitting the river till about 2 or 3. We have been doing well both with the dry dropper game as well as the bobber lobbing. The fish are in their summer spots and look for them in all the faster bouncy riffles that the Madison is famous for. We h...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison River 7-4-2015
The Madison River continues to produce fish even in the heat. Best results are on early off early. We have been seeing some record heat for this time of year. Even though it might be in the 90 each of the last 7 days the Madison River has still kept producing. The powers that be at the dam have give us some more water which has slightly moderated water temps. The best fishing right now is from day light till about 2 pm. After this the water temps are starting to get to hot for the fish to...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison River 6-24-2015
Salmon Fly's, Goldens, Big Caddis, Little Caddis and PMD's The Madison River is fishing red hot right now with Salmon Fly's, golden stone fly's, yellow sallies, caddis and Pmd's. The river level has dropped and it is getting a little tight in some spots. Fishing has been best in the afternoon after the stone flys get warm and start flying. We have been having more luck with a golden stone and a caddis dropper. If you are having a tough time try nymphing a rubber leg and a soft hackle prin...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison River 6-18-2015
The salmon fly's are out in force and now is the time to fish the Madison River. The River has dropped considerably and now it is getting to look a lot like mid summer levels. It is getting boney and the fish have moved off the banks and are concentrated in their summer spots. Deep green water with some chop is money. The salmon fly's are out and about on the river and good hatches are reported as far upstream as Storey Ditch. The fish are looking at them in a big way. Our best dry fly's ...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison River 6-12-2015
With the dropping and clearing water levels the Madison River is starting to fish really well. We have been having good luck with small flashy streamers like a sparkle minnow followed by a worm. Some really large fish are being caught with this technique. The dry fly fishing has been getting better each and every day. Hatches of caddis both big sedge like and smaller tan as well as golden stones and yellow sallies have the fish looking up especially in the afternoon. Small chubbies follo...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison River 6-6-2015
The Madison River is high but the color is good and green especially from Quake to McAtee Bridge. Be very careful floating the Madison River at this level as rocks and other obstructions come up quick. Also, the two low bridges of Wolf Creek and Sun West can be dangerous at this level. If you decide to get out there and fish you will need to get down and dirty to stay bent. Larger dark bodied stone fly nymphs such as Pats Rubber Leg in Black, Brown or Coffee weighted with an extra split...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison 5-15-2015
Fishing Conditions The opening of the Upper Madison River above McAtee Bridge and below Ennis in the Channels section is this weekend and should not be missed. With the good flows and the green to clear water this is shaping up to be one of the best openings in recent memory. If your heading out i would suggest starting the day bobber lobbing and nymphing. Keep with the basic stuff of stone fly's, large may fly nymphs and caddis emergers. We are still seeing good hatches of caddis...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison 5-7-2015
Fishing Conditions With the warm weather we have been having the visibility of the water has diminished. Right now we have about 24 inches of visibility which is good but down from the gin clear water we all got accustomed to this spring. The fish are still on the feed and if your a dry fly guy now is the time to get out there. We have been doing well with March Browns and skwala during the heat of the day and then Mothers Day Caddis in the later afternoon and evenings. The dry f...
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Fishing Report Upper Madison 4-28-2015
Fishing Conditions If you can get to the upper Madison River in the next few days you should do it. The mothers day caddis hatch is in full swing and it is one of the few times a year where you can almost bank on catching fish on dry fly's. The Mothers Day Caddis Hatch is in full swing and the fish are taking notice. The best time for dry flys has been mid afternoon but the fish are on emergers all day. If looking for dry fly fishing look in the slower water of the side channels a...
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