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.   The good news is the fish are still hungry and cool water makes them frisky.   Look for bigger protein bites.  Dead drifting a streamer is the name of the game right now.  Follow it with a prince, lightning bug or other shiny nymph and you'r in business.   Hopefully the water levels, cool water remain and we get rid of the smoke and we can get a little hopper fishing.