Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
Fishing Report for the Madison River 9-22-24
Fall Fishing The Madison River continues to produce . The river is in great shape with flows of 976 CFS at Kirby and a temp of 52-60 degrees. At Varney Bridge the flow is 1140 CFS and a temp of 50-56 degrees. This is really great flow and awesome temps for fall fishing. Streamers have become more productive and will continue to improve. The cool water and rain of the last week sure help a bunch. River traffic has slowed and will continue to slow this next week as more and more locals ar...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 9-9-24
Grasshoppers The grasshopper bite is still on the Madison River. We are seeing fish caught on hoppers river wide. The Madison River is currently 875 CFS at Kirby Ranch and 1040 CFS at Varney. Temps are topping out in the 63 range. They dropped the river this past week. Construction of a new dock on Ennis Lake is forcing the DAM Folks to drop the level of Ennis Lake considerably and then reduce flows on the Upper Madison River. This drop put the fish off for a few days but they are b...
Read MoreFishing Report for the Madison River Labor Day 2024
Is it Fall Yet on the Madison While it might be labor day weekend it still is summer mode here on the Madison River. We will continue to be in summer mode with dry flies, hoppers, ants and other floating attractors until we get the first big front of fall. This usually happens about middle of the month. We like to call this the equinox storm. This signifies the change from summer to fall. One day your throwing hoppers and summer living is easy the next streamer time and fall. Wh...
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Madison River Fishing Report for 8-25-24
Hoppers Still The Game Hoppers and ants are still the game on the Madison River. Most of the good dry fly fishing is happening after lunch. The golden hours for dry fly fishing is between say 10:30 and 4pm. Sleep in a little and get a good breakfast and fish past lunch. It will be worth it. The Madison River continues to drop. Currently we are sitting at 976 CFS at Kirby Ranch with morning temp of 56 degrees. At Varney Bridge we are at 1130 CFS with a morning temp of 55 degrees. ...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 8-18
Hoppers Anyone? The Madison River is in great shape for the middle of August. The flows have dropped to 988 CFS at Kirby and 1140 CFS at Varney Bridge. The cooler weather made it possible that the lower Madison did not need pulse flows to keep it cool. They no longer need to fill Ennis Lake daily so the flows on the Upper Dropped. While this may feel like a bad thing it is actually great for the dry fly fishing. The lower river gives more area river wide for fish to eat dry flies. M...
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First Week of August Fishing Report
Water River Conditions The Madison River is in good shape and flows right now are 1090 CFS at Kirby and 1240 CFS at Varney Bridge. Great flow for how hot it has been and this time of year. Fish like water and we have good water. The temps are staying in the safe zone with high temps at Varney of 62 Degrees and Kirby of 59. The Madison River is the perfect level for floating and still provides lots of space for the wade fisherman. The water this year has been just great. This keeps t...
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Mid Summer Fishing Report for the Madison River
River Levels The Madison River is currently sitting at 1380 CFS at Kirby and 1570 CFS at Varney Bridge. Great water flows and good levels for this time of year. We currently have hoot owl fishing restrictions from Ennis FAS downstream all the way to the Jefferson River. This means no fishing after 2 pm. While it is warming up and Montana is in a huge heat wave the Upper Madison remains in the cool zone. I can not remember this many days in the 90's ever. The folks at the Dam are g...
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Life After Salmon Flies Fishing Report
Salmon Flies The salmon fly hatch on the Madison River this year was really really good. If you were here you know. We did not tie on a fly that sinks for over 2 weeks during daily guide trips. If your still hunting that big bug fix look up river. Lyons Bridge and upstream you will find them. Still some darn good fishing to be had you just need to do it with your feet in the water. Whats Next For many the salmon flies are the apex for the season. But, there are still some darn goo...
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Salmon Fly Madness on the Madison River
The Big Bugs have Arrived If you are around now get after it. The salmon flies are on the river. We are seeing them up to about McAtee Bridge and they will move up from there. We are thinking by tomorrow night they will be to Ruby. What to fish If your chasing the big bugs we like low riding salmon fly in smaller sizes. We like size 10-8 in chubby or other foamy creations. The real action right now is on the caddis like normal. We have been fishing a salmon fly with a caddis t...
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Salmon Flies are Close but not here Yet
Salmon Flies are so close we can taste it Forget what your bro buddy has told you they are not here yet. Yes can a guy scour the bank in the channels and find a single salmon fly to photograph and put all over the inter-webs to start the frenzy and migration? Absolutely and that has happened. Real talk they are not here and are defenitally not flying around. This cold snap and snow we had the past few days has put a damper on the hatch and dropped the water temps. Flows are still ...
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