...when talking western fly-fishing for its wild-trout management, catch and release regulations, terrific fish numbers, and stunning scenery. The “story” around the impact of cold, clean water is told best by this river’s history as the trout have continued to thrive despite whirling disease, broken dams, and increasing angling pressure. It looks like 2023 is shaping up to be a great year for cold-clean water on the upper Madison which typically means that we will see active fish throughout the summer months. However, it also means that spring fly-fishing conditions on the upper River will likely be in prime shape as well.

As water temperatures warm in February and March with longer days and milder weather patterns, the trout and insects start to become active for longer periods of each day. Rainbow Trout start their pre-spawn behavior as early as January while spawning fish can be found in the river well into May, some years. Midge and Blue-Olive Hatches become daily occurrences by late March, bringing fish to the surface on cloudy days during the early afternoons. Low elevation snow melt marks the beginning of the runoff with rising water levels in small tributaries, bringing more bugs, worms, and small fish into the main river as well. In short, spring is when the upper Madison starts to come “back to life” each year.

March and April are two great months of the year to get out on a guided fly-fishing trip on the Madison with Fins & Feathers Guide Service. These days typically involve more wade-fishing – we use the drift boats to get from spot to spot rather than focus on fishing from the boat as we do in the summer months. The weather is variable this time of year, so being prepared with good waders, socks, gloves, and clothing layers is essential. This is a great time of year to explore the river and improve one’s skill with reading water, matching hatches, and simply enjoy this remarkable river during one of the quietest times of the season.

In 2023, we are offering a special on Spring Madison River guided fly-fishing trip on the upper river. These trips typically take place near Ennis, Montana and will last anywhere from 6-8 hours, conditions dependent. We float a stretch of the river that is usually 8-10 miles long, focusing most of our angling efforts on working water while wading less accessible parts of the river. Nymph fishing is the standard and most-productive technique this time of year, but there is often a chance for some streamer fishing while floating between spots and we will see some good hatches on cloudy days as well.

The cost for the Madison Spring Special is $500 for 1-2 anglers and includes everything you need for a day on the water in terms of terminal tackle, rods, reels, waders, and boots. The guide will have water in the cooler, but we do not provide lunches or specialty drinks on our trips this time of the year. If you would like more information about this Montana guided fly-fishing off-season special, please e-mail us at info@flyfishingbozeman.com . You can also book directly online by clicking on any of the “Book Online” buttons on our website.