Madison River Fishing Report
The Tackle Shop Fly Shop and Fishing Guides in Ennis, Montana
Fishing Report for the Madison River 6-19-21
The salmon fly hatch is in full swing and the Madison River is a big party right now. Like fishing big dries? Go ahead. Like little dry flies? Those are working. Like streamers? Chuck and duck my friend. Like nymphing? That will catch you a bunch of fish. The long and short of it is any way you want to fish you can catch fish doing it on the Madison River right now. As long as the big bugs stick around, caddis hatch, PMD's hatch and goldens and sallies are abundant ...
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Madison River Fishing Report June 1 2021
We are in the heart of what we will see for runoff this season on the Madison River. Mud is coming from many of the tributaries mostly from the West Fork. The dam is not releasing much water as they are trying to fill the lake. This is the most important thing for cool water all summer. With these conditions the main river is off colored right now. Do not be afraid. The level has not come up much so the fish are in the same spots as normal. If your fishing now the girdl...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 5-7-2021
Caddis Everywhere! Caddis, Caddis everywhere. The famed Mothers Day Caddis hatch has started on the Madison River. The lower river below the Bear Trap Canyon is covered up in dry fly fishing and the Upper River above Ennis is just starting. Think Tuesday of next week if your looking or some really good dry fly fishing. If your fishing this weekend during the storm think nymphing stone flies and caddis larva. Plenty of both in the soup right now and the fish should be looking for them...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 4-24-2021
Spring is in the air and it is time to get out and fish. Good weather on the horizon all week. The thing about spring fishing is that the better the weather the better the fishing. String a few warm days together and it is game on. We are going to see just that in the next week. Nymphs, streamers even some dries will be on the menu. Blue winged olives are starting to bounce around along with some skwala stone flies. Nice weather days with overcast will make some fish lo...
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Madison River Fishing Report for 3/26/2021
Nice weather is on the horizon for the weekend and the fishing is getting better and better. The Madison River continues to fish well and a little bump in water temps from this weekend will only help. The water temps are starting the day low in the high 30's but getting up to above 40. Once we see morning temps around that 42 mark it will be game on. Folks are getting fish with the standard spring stuff of stone fly nymphs, worms, eggs and shiny and tiny midge and may fly nymph...
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Madison River Fishing Report for 3/20/2021
Spring fishing on the Madison River is off to a good start with the official start to spring. As long as the water temps stay above 40 degrees we should see good fishing continue and in fact get better by the day. Remember there are lots of fish getting ready to spawn this spring. If you see fish spawning and Redds pleas stay away from them and let them do their thing. Our future fish depend on it. Also if you know where fish are spawning please do not fish in the pool below them. Th...
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Madison River Fishing Report 3/12/2021
Weather It certainly feels like spring here in the Trout Capitol of the USA. The Madison River has been struck with Mid-High 40 degree weather for the past week and a half and that trend doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon with high 40's projected through next Sunday. The fishing has been hot as of late with these consistent temps. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv?site_no=06038800 Nymphing Nymphing is the name of the game right now, with fish still podded up in slow pools. Fish...
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Madison River Fishing Report 3/5/2021
Although this week has felt like Spring, winter is still in full swing over here on the Upper Madison River. Luckily for us that means plenty of elbow room on the river. This can be one of our favorite times of the year to fish solely due to the solitude that can be had on the river. As far as fishing goes cold water pushes trout into deep slow runs often found behind boulders and elbow bends. Fish stack up in places like these and pods can often be found in the hundreds. Whats Working Fishi...
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Madison River Fishing Report for 3/1/2021
Winter in the Madison Valley is a fickle thing for the fly fisher. One week there is great weather and the fish are up eating midges ever afternoon and the next week it is 30 below zero. We have seen both in the last while. It looks like for the upcoming week or so we will at least have some fishable days. If you get one of these days when the weather is good and there is little wind think midges. Those tiny and shiny nymphs will keep you bent all afternoon. Trail them behind a gi...
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Fishing Report for the Madison River 9-4-2020
The fly fishing on the Madison River continues to impress. Warm summer like days are keeping the hopper fishing out of hand. Think mid day and on and float what ever hopper you like. Trail it with an ant and you have a deadly combo. Lots of big fish up eating and will continue as long as the warm weather stays. Mornings drop a nymph like a lightning bug or prince or do the bobber thing. Lots to be excited about for the Labor day weekend on the Madison River and Ennis. Great sale Satu...
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