Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
Spring in Montana – Montana Fishing Guides Favorite Season
The Hibernating Montana Fly Fishing Guide Awakens For many Ennis Montana fishing guides, spring is the clear favorite time of year. Many things happen to get these famed Montana fly fishing guide's off their barstools and away from their fly tying desks. The first of which is an increase in temperature. Montana can be cold and brutal throughout the winter. Ice gorges form and most angler's fall into a lull of skiing and tying flies. However, similar to most plants and animals, Monta...
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A Frozen End to an Unseasonably Warm February
To Ski or To Fish? This seemed to be a question that a lot of Montanan's had to answer this past February. With multiple days reaching over 50 degrees and a less than optimal snowpack "to fish" seemed like an easy answer to this question. Warm temperatures brought in bountiful midge hatches as far as the eye could see, especially on slower moving waterways such as the Lower Madison. While nymphing was still the name of the game, dry or die souls were able to get their fix in. Even thoug...
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Madison River Fishing Report 2/9/22
Spring Fishing in February? It sure has felt that way as of late, especially with this weekend's forecasts reaching the low 50's. If Winter midge fishing is your thing then you will want to be out there in the next couple of days. This weekend will be a great time to put away the ski's and get the dusty old fly rod and waders out. Upper Madison River Warm weather has sent the fish on into a feeding frenzy which is rare to come by with winter fishing. Throughout the heat of the day many pods...
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Fishing Report for the Madison 12-5
With everything the Madison River has gone through in the past week we are suggesting that we give the fish a little holiday break. The dewatering of the river from the malfunction from Hebgen Dam and the stress it put on the fish to the river wide fishing closure from FWP now is the time for a rest. This year has been a busy one for the Madison. Record number of anglers, hot dry summer and lower water to the mess this last week things have been tough. The fish need a little break and no...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 9-20
Fishing is getting better and better by the day on the Madison River. Fall has arrived and the leaves are starting to turn colors, the water is cooler and the fish have taken notice. Good fishing can be had river wide Most guys are doing the sub surface thing right now. Hoppers and ants can still bring up a fish or two in the afternoon but fishing dries all day is gone for the summer. Most guys are throwing nymphs and streamers. Some really big fish are being taken on s...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 9/9
Fishing is getting better and better each day. The river is getting lonely compared to the crazy of summer season. Streamers are picking up and will continue to get better by the day. Hoppers and ants are still the ticket for the dry fly anglers in the afternoon. Dragging around a sculpin or zonker in the morning will bring a big fish or two. Keep a small bead head behind for more fish. After lunch switch to dry dropper or even better two dries. Hopper ant is a great combo ...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 8/31
That cold and rain we had a few weeks ago was just what the doctor order for the Madison River fish. It took a while but the fish are starting to look up again for hoppers and ants in the afternoon. This is a sun and water temp thing. The more sun we get to the river bank the better the terrestrial fishing will be. Problem is that the smoke is making sun to the river more problematic. Hoppers need direct sun to start to fly. With the artificial overcast it is good for fishin...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 8-23-21
The cool down that the Madison River has seen in the past week with the rain has changed the game. Water temps are a little on the chilly side right now. Plan on letting the water temps bump up during the day for the best fishing. The rain was needed but the smoke still remains. This is making the hopper fishing less than ideal. With no real sun the hoppers do not fly around and turn into trout food. Thank the smoke for the sub optimal hopper fishing this summer. ...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 8-1
It's that hopper time of the year on the Madison River. Walk any of the banks and you will find tons of small hoppers. Not a bunch of the big ones but many small hoppers. The fish are really taking notice especially when the sun is out. If you going fishing this week the hopper dropper rig has been best. We like smaller sized 10 foam hoppers in pink, tan or peach color. The dropper has been P tails, prince or lightning bugs. This has been working from about 10 am on. ...
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Madison River Fishing Report in the time of Hoot Owl
Yes it is true The Madison River has been marked with the Hoot Owl restrictions. This means no fishing at all from 2 pm till midnight. While there are normally very specific criteria to enact and redact hoot owl restrictions this time FWP is winging it. If you look at the press release it is admitted that the criteria has not been met FWP is still enacting these restrictions because of heavy use. A little bit of a leap from the historical rules. Read the full press release from FWP...
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