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Lower Madison Fishing Reports

Your Local Source For Fishing Reports

Big Sky Country is our backyard. We've put our passion for Montana fly fishing trips to work and have hand-picked a selection of fly-fishing lodges, overnight float trips, and day trips. If you're thinking of a Montana fly fishing vacation, looking for a multi-day wilderness fishing experience, or just visiting Bozeman or Missoula or another Montana town and want to add on a fishing trip, let Yellow Dog's Montana roots work for you.

Listen to this WAYPOINTS Podcast: Jake WELLS – Planning the Perfect Trip to Montana

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Lower Madison River Fishing Reports
Updated Apr 06, 25

*Flow Data: Madison River below Ennis Lake near McAllister, MT

The cooler weather hangs in there until Friday but lets off this weekend. Fishing remains good and we will hopefully start to see BWO's hatching before too long with the warm weather next week. Fish are no longer solely focused in the deep slow moving holes so it is worth fishing some faster moving water. Midge hatches are great and fish are willing to rise when the conditions are calm and overcast. Griffith's gnat is my go to for these risers. Nymphing has been good to great with Little Yellow Sally nymphs, midge nymphs, San Juan Worms and scuds and sowbugs. If you are over looking at an indicator try fishing a skwala dry or a peacock Chubby with a perdigon dropper. A few skwalas have been spotted so you may trick a few fish into eaeting a large dry fly. Streamer fishing should only improve from here. I still like smaller flies such as Skiddish Smolts and Sparkle Minnows. Keep an eye out for rainbow trout redds and avoid stepping on or fishing these areas while fish go about creating the next generation.

To purchase an assortment of up-to-date, hand-selected flies for the Lower Madison River:

  • Select the Montana Fly Assortment below
  • Select the number of desired flies
  • Enter where and when you plan on fishing
  • Opt for In-store pickup at checkout

Montana fishing licenses are available for purchase online at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and at Yellow Dog Flyfishing - Fly Shop (some exceptions may apply). If you are planning to fish in the headwaters of the Gallatin River area above Taylor's Fork (approx. 1 mile upstream); be aware that most of this is in Yellowstone National Park which requires a separate fishing license and is seasonally open to fishing according to YNP regulations.

For Shuttles on the Lower Madison Contact:

  • Bob's Shuttles: (406) 595-0587
  • Space Shuttle: (406) 518-1799
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Historical River Flow