Fishing Season: Year Round (Prime: April 15 - October 15)

Madison River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

33

John Way's Tip of the Week

Up and down water flows for the next several weeks as the melt starts. When we get cooler weather and flows drop get out and fish.

Directions open in app

Map of Madison River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Firehole Ranch
Madison Valley Ranch
The Tackle Shop Outfitters
Long Outfitting
Fins & Feathers
Bitterroot Fly Company

5-Day Outlook as of 5/8/25

Flows dropping now but will come back up with warm weather. You have a good window now.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/8/25

Nymph fishing will still out score dry fly fishing. Worms, eggs, stone fly, and tiny and shiny.

Local Species Available Year Round (Prime: April 15 - October 15)

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    Mountain Whitefish

John Way's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Micro Egg orenge 10
Bead Head Brassie™ brass 16
Shaky Worm Red 10
Vernille San Juan Worm Red 10
Perdigon Black 16
Sculpin streamer Olive 6
Rojo Midge Black 16
TH 20 Incher peacock 4
Trevors streamer Black 6
Wire worm red 12

Micro Egg

Increase your catch rate with this micro egg trout fly.

2.49

Item #12A6

Buy Now

John Way's Recommended Gear

Description: About Madison River

The Upper Madison is know as the "Fifty Mile Rifle". It has some of the most classic trout water in the country and many anglers from all over the country have called it their favorite for years. With lots of Rainbow and Brown Trout and good fishing with nymphs, dries, and streamsrs, the Madison is a near perfect trout stream. The Madison River has great access for wade and float fisherman. There are two wade fishing only sections. The first from Quake Lake to Lyons Bridge. The second from Ennis Bridge to Ennis Lake. The most popular float section is from Lyons Bridge to McAtee Bridge.

Nearest Airport:

Gallatin Field Airport (BZN), Bozeman, Montana

Hatches:

Caddis, Midges, worms, eggs, stone fly

Best Time to Fish:

Mid day

Best Stretch:

Reynolds Pass or 3 Dollar Bridge for Wade fisherman. Varney to Ennis for float fisherman.

Best Access:

3 Dollar Bridge and Valley Garden