Fishing Report for the Madison River 8/22/26

By John Way
/ 22nd August 2026

River Conditions

The Madison River is in great shape for this time of year. It is currently flowing at 875 CFS at kirby with a temp of 58 degrees. At Varney it is 971 CFS and 61 degrees. With the cooler weather we have been having the folks at the dam cut the water back. They no longer need to pulse flow the lower river so there is no need to constantly fill Ennis Lake. While the flows decreased on the upper this mean better wading options for everyone and more dry fly opportunities. Just in time for prime time hopper and ant fishing. When the normal biomass goes down because of lack of hatches the terrestrials take up the space.

Dry Fly

The dry fly fishing especially on sunny days has been nothing short of great. Fish are eating hoppers, ants and caddis. They like the sun. The sun makes the hoppers and ants more active so that is when the fish are more active. We have been doing really well with dry flies like small chubbies in royal and pink, hopper patterns like the M hopper, juicy hopper and thunder thighs. For ants the CFO ant and the Arricks ant have been money from about 10 am on. If you want to throw a dropper behind your hopper go ahead. We have been doing well with spanish bullets, prince and tungdipity. Any dry fly you will need to sort through some smaller fish but keep at it as some really large fish are eating the hopper.

Nymph Fishing

For the guys that really like to follow a bobber you can still get it done. Remember the river is half the size it was just weeks ago. Shorten your leader, less split shot or none at all and thin up your tippet. Spanish bullets, tungdipity, princes and frenchies are all catching fish. We like making the indicator smaller this time of year. When it is low and clear a large orange bobber is like throwing a bowling ball. Try the xsmall from Oros or even the pinch on indicators. You will get more strikes with the river is low and clear.

Streamer

There are some guys throwing streamers right now. Stay with it and you will be rewarded. The streamer fishing will only get better in the next month. Remember the river is low and clear and that makes fish see everything. If they are not aggressive they will pass a streamer. This will all change shortly.

Stop by the store for the best bugs in town and friendly advice. End of season specials and sales every week.