The Madison River is in a state of flux right now. Is it summer, spring or somewhere in between. Are we doing the run off thing or are we going to more reasonable flows. The answer to all of these questions depends on the day. It is that temporary right now. We get a big warm up or rain and the river turns from Bugger green to paper bag brown. A few days of cooler weather and it is back to the happy color. Currently we are somewhere in between. The Madison River is holding around 1900 CFS at Varney Bridge. While not big by historic numbers still significantly more water than summer flows. The color changes by the day.
For totally clean water you will need to fish above the West Fork. Below the West Fork of the Madison the color goes down hill. Most have been floating the upper from Lyons Bridge down. The water completely merges about at Windy Point. Our best set ups in the upper has been a zonker, stone fly, or other big bug with a worm or large Copper John trailer. You will see a bunch of caddis, March Browns, and some stone flies. We feel they are eating the large CJ as a march brown emerger.
If your looking to get bent with a dry fly upper river near $3 is your best choice especially on cloudy days. BWO have been thick in the clouds. If your a streamer junkie now is your time. Slinky sculpin streamers are taking their share of big fish. White has been the color of the week on the bunny fur.
Don’t forget if your around Ennis on Saturday stop in to the 3rd annual Brew and Spirits Festival at the Lyons Club Park. 20 brewers and distillers, food, music, fun, face painting and fun for the entire family. 3-7 on Saturday.
