Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
Mid Winter Fly Fishing Report for January 25, 2023
Mid Winter Fly Fishing Mid winter fly fishing can be a fickle thing. Weather is everything. Find a nice day above freezing with a little sun and little wind and you are golden. Finding these days are rare in the Madison Valley but they do exist. Find the Warm Days On those warm winter days fishing can be pretty good. You need to keep in mind this is not summer fishing. The fish are not scattered in all the heavy riffles and under every wave. This time of the year fish seek solitud...
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Fall Fishing is Heating up on the Madison River
Fall Fishing is Heating Up on the Madison River Fall has arrived in all its glory on the Madison River. The cooling days, longer dark periods and cool water temps has put new life into the Madison River fish and our guides. The fish are still eating hoppers and ants in the afternoon and streamer fishing is heating up and getting better and better by the day. It is just a matter of time and this river will explode and the fishing will be really good for bigger fish. We have yet to see ...
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Labor Day Weekend End of Summer Heat
End of Summer Labor Day Heat We are seeing a heat wave for the last big weekend of Summer. Temps are hitting well above the 90 degree mark on the Madison River this week. While this might be good for the summer lake and tuber crowd this is doing nothing for the fishing. Water temps are starting to inch up and in fact most folks should be off the water and not fishing after 2 pm. While it is hot right now it looks like a major cool down is headed our way mid next week. This will change...
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One More Hot week on the Madison River Than Fall?
One more week of heat then fall weather We are looking at one more week of hot summer like weather on the Madison River. Our Montana Fly Fishing Guides and all of us are looking forward to fall and some cooler weather. The I phone weather forecast says this entire week will be warm with temps in the 90's all week. The positive thing is that nights are staying cool and average in the low 40's and it is getting dark earlier. Not good for the solar powered people but good for the river. Ho...
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Hoot Owl Ended on the Madison
Hoot Owl Regulations are Over on the Madison River We got word today that Hoot Owl regulations from Eight Mile Ford to Ennis Lake have ended. This section of river is now open all day long. There is still Hoot Owl regulations from Ennis Lake Dam downstream to 3 Forks. The cool weather and longer dark periods have helped lower the water temps and move us into the safe zone. Fishing Getting Better By the Day We have been in the dog days of summer and fishing has suffered. Warm water temps...
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August Dog Days on the Madison River
The Dog Days of Summer are Here The dog days of summer have arrived and everyone is trying to squeeze all the activity out of the short Montana Summer. For many that includes fishing the Madison River. Even with the warm temps there are still options for fishing. Hoppers and ants are starting, nymphing remains good and flows are outstanding. In fact we are seeing a bunch of water in the Madison River right now. They are releasing out of Hebgan Dam so that Ennis Lake has sufficient l...
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August and Hoot Owl on the Madison River
Hoot Owl on the Madison River This string of hot days has finally done it. Montana FWP has instituted Hoot Owl Restriction on the Upper Madison River. These restrictions are from Ennis Lake upstream to 8 Mile Ford Fishing Access Site. Fishing in this stretch is closed from 2 PM till Midnight every day. This went into effect starting August 2. This is a direct result of water temps being above 70 degrees for three days. MTFWP will remove restrictions when there are three days bel...
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Hot Weather and Warm Water Temps on the Madison River
Warm water temps on the Madison River It's getting warm out there. We have been consistently hitting 90 degrees during the day with bright sun shine. This is making the Madison River warm up. Trout do not like temps over 68 degrees and catching them when the water is this warm puts them in danger. Warm temps carry less oxygen and fighting a rod expends fish. Even if they swim away they may die later from the exhaustion. Fish fighting and handling practices are more important when ...
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End of July and the Fishing is Still Strong
The Resilient Madison River People can say a bunch of bad stuff about the Madison River. It is crowded, fast, technical but the fact is that it just produces day after day. Bring on heat, crowds and sun and folks are still hooked up daily. This consistency is why the Madison River is still one of the best fly fishing rivers in the world and a favorite of anglers. If you are fishing Montana the Madison is where you should be. Sub-Surface is King If your out there now we are sort ...
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Mid Summer Madison River Fishing Report 7-19
High Water and Heat and the Madison Continues to Produce We have seen it all in the last month. High water, salmon flies, goldens, heat, high winds and now heat. The Madison River continues to produce every day. We are now in the mid summer pattern. We have lots of water to play with on the Madison River. In fact the powers that be at Hebgan put a little more water in the river. This should help with the water temps and keep them cool. Nothing like water from the bottom of the lake ...
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