Fishing Report for the Madison River 7-27

Middle of Summer on the Madison

We have come to the middle of the summer season on the Madison River and the fishing is still doing well.   The river is currently running at 1050 CFS at Kirby and 1190 CFS at Varney Bridge.  The flow is great and is helping keep the temps down.  This in turn is saving us the hoot owl restrictions that many other rivers are seeing.  Lets keep getting some timely rain storms and a few cool days along with clear cool nights and we should make it just fine.  Because many of the other rivers in SW Montana are closed or on Hoot Owl you will see more people on the Madison.  The cost of doing business on a tailwater river.  Remember everyone is out there for the same reason to have a good time in nature.  Show a little patience and make some friends.  Remember to make sure you have your shit together on the boat ramps as these are the bottle neck spots.

Dry Fly

The dry fly fishing has been hanging in there even in the heat.  We have been doing well on small hopper/nocturnal stone patterns trailing a ant or caddis.  The dry fly fishing does not get going early and in fact only is going in the afternoons.  Think hit the river at 1030 and you should be just fine.  We like patterns like thunder thighs, cloud 9, strike instigator, jucy hopper and chubbies all in fleshy peach color and size 10-14.  If you find some of the local living hoppers they are small.   We like following them with para ants, CDC ants, Xcaddis or Loop wing caddis all in size 14.  You will need to sort through some little fish but stay at it and some big dogs will come up to eat.  If your out in the morning try hanging a dropper behind the hopper.  We like CDC princes, French dippity, duracels, frenchies and soft hackle lightning bugs.  Remember to throw 4X on all droppers as it is that time of year.

Nymphs/Streamers

The nymph folks are doing just fine.  They are still throwing CDC Princes, lightning bugs, frenchies and french dips.   If you want to follow a bobber go ahead.  We believe it is dry fly season and you can follow a bobber in March.  Streamer guys are getting some good fish early in the morning.  Stuff like olive sculpin patterns and zonkers are getting the job done. Throw a streamer in the morning you might just catch a big one.

 

Stop by the store for the latest intel, grab some bugs and chat. The friendliest fly shop in the valley.

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