WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1: If you call the Yellow Dog offices today and the phones ring a bit longer, we apologize. A large portion of our team is out of the office and on the Madison River today, helping with efforts to rescue fish. We encourage all industry personnel, anglers, and lovers of the Madison to head to the Upper and assist with efforts.
As many of you already know, Hebgen Dam has malfunctioned, and Montana FWP has initiated an emergency closure on the Upper Madison from the Dam all the way to Ennis Reservoir. CFS and flow from the dam have dropped approx.. 80%, and there are large sections of the riverbed that are now de-watered. Fish are trapped in side channels and skinny puddles, and volunteers are hard at work to net and collect fish and return them to what remains of the main channel.
Anyone who is available and in the area today can walk the banks – literally ANYWHERE and on all sections of the Upper Madison – to rescue and move stranded fish back into the main stream of the river. Please try to avoid areas around spawning redds, but by all means, head down and help if possible. Bring a bucket and small-mesh nets. Full-on rescue and recovery mode, folks!
More information will be posted throughout the day and the week by area fly shops, including Galloup’s Slide Inn, Madison River Fishing Company, Trout Stalkers, and others.
