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

Madison River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

67

Yellow Dog Flyfishing's Tip of the Week

The nymphing will keep you busy throughout the day. Keep an eye out for rising fish. PMD's ,Little Yellow Sallies, Caddis, and Drakes may hatch and have fish rising. If it is relatively calm and cloudy fish might be looking up. Best time to get a dry fly bite is later in the day.

Directions open in app

Map of Madison River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Fins & Feathers
Bitterroot Fly Company

5-Day Outlook as of 6/17/25

Water temps are getting over 70 degrees in the afternoons. Hopefully the cool weather that is expected this weekend will bring the temps back down.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/17/25

Nymphing is the most consistent way to catch fish as of now. When you spot fish rising a parachute adams will work great. A PMD Nymph and a Zebra Midge will work well. Yellow Sallies and crayfish patterns are working well.

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

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    Mountain Whitefish

Yellow Dog Flyfishing's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Jan's Trout Crayfish Tan 8-10
Adam's Purple Parachute Purple 18
Birchell's Hatching Midge Black 16
Lightning Bug Silver, Gold 16-18
Perdigons yellow 16
Sculpzilla Natural 6-8
March Brown brown 14
Vernille San Juan Worm Red 8-10
Double Gonga Tan/Yellow 6-8

Jan's Trout Crayfish

On stillwater or the trout stream, you'll get terrific results with our crayfish fly patterns.

2.99

Item #0K17

Buy Now

Yellow Dog Flyfishing's Recommended Gear

Description: About Madison River

The Lower Madison offers great fishing close to Bozeman with some large fish regularly taken. Bear Trap Canyon section is a rugged wilderness area with more of a freestone feel. as the river comes out of the Trap it flows through a more agricultural landscape and provides miles of great fishing for brown and Rainbow trout.

Nearest Airport:

Gallatin Field Airport (BZN), Bozeman, Montana

Hatches:

PMD's, Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Caddis

Best Time to Fish:

Morning

Best Stretch:

Ennis Dam to Blacks Ford

Best Access:

Ennis Dam, Beartrap Canyon trailhead