Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
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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After 4th of July Weekend Fishing Report for the Madison River
Salmon Flies Still in Play The big bugs are still in play and the fish are still looking at them. Currently the big bugs are above Macatee Bridge. Lots of flying salmon flies and fish have taken notice. Reports of single dry fisherman all day. We like the low rider salmon flies for this portion of the hatch. Think water walker type. The fish have seen plenty of the big orange fluter bugs and now are looking for something down in the film. We also like the drowned salmon fly as a d...
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Salmon Fly Time on the Madison River
Salmon Flies Have Arrived It is that special time of year on the Madison River. The famed Salmon Flies have arrived and are making a big impact on the fishing. The river has dropped in flow considerably and cleared to the point of being almost completely clear. Now is the time. The big bugs started two days ago and folks are catching fish on dry flies. There are caddis river wide and yellow sallies and goldens but people are hungry for the big salmon fly. If you want to throw the bi...
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Dropping and Clearing Flows on the Madison River
Flows continue to drop on the Madison River As the weather stabilizes the flows on the Madison River are doing the same. The last few days flows have come down considerably and the river is starting to be fishable from top to bottom. Currently flows at Kirby Ranch are 2620 CFS and on the drop. This is down from a high over 4000 just a week ago. This makes floating possible over the entire river. Be Careful out there Even though flows have fallen and continue to do so there is st...
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Big Flows on the Madison River
High Flows on the Madison River Currently we are seeing the peak of runoff here on the Madison River in Montana. We have flows of 3870 CFS at the Kirby Ranch. These are super high and more or less not fishable. The flows are currently so high that any floating the river is dangerous. The two low bridges between Lyons Bridge FAS and Palisades FAS are not runnable as you can not get under them. Our Guides are not floating the Madison River right now. Do not float right now if yo...
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Mud and High Water on The Madison River
The Madison River in Runoff Mode Right Now Currently the Madison River is in runoff mode. The creeks are all pumping mud from the high country snow melt and the dam is increasing flow every day. We were blessed for the late spring and lots of moisture. Three months ago the Hebgan Dam was forecast not to fill this year. Now they should have it full this week. While this is good news for the summer flows and cold water currently the options are limited. With the increased flows on the...
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High and Muddy on the Madison River
High and Muddy Madison River Currently and for the next few weeks the Madison River will continue to be high and muddy. This statement is a little deceiving . The river is not that high but just off colored. Normally we do not see this amount of color in the Madison. This year the flows out of the Dam which are clear and clean and normally offset the muddy flows out of the creeks are significantly lower. The powers that be are trying really hard to fill Hebgan Lake. It started off t...
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