April 16, 2023 Lower Madison Fishing Report
Date: 04/16/2023
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The flows have been bouncing around a bit over on the lower Madison this past week and its safe to assume that will continue the next few weeks. Some of the low elevation streams like Cherry Creek and Elk Creek have been bring some mud into the river, but it has been inconsequential so far. There are a lot of Midges around right now with good dry fly fishing mid-day when we have some stable cloud cover. Fish can be found feeding actively along bank seams and weed-bed edges during periods of significant hatches. Expect BWO hatches to start going soon and the Mother's Day Caddis should only be a couple of weeks away too, at most. Nymphing has been reliable throughout the Beartrap and Highway 84 sections, providing some of the best fly-fishing around Bozeman - when the wind is not "ripping."
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Hi-Vis Griffith's Gnat
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Lower Madison River Fishing
The lower Madison River has diverse wild-trout habitats from Ennis Lake to Three Forks. Beartrap Canyon has raging whitewater through boulder fields and narrow gorges. The river flows through a rugged valley before joining with the Jefferson and Gallatin Rivers. Fish species include Rainbow, Westslope Cutthroat, and Brown Trout. Both novice and advanced anglers can find ample opportunities to fish.
Read the "Lower Madison River Fishing Guide" for a comprehensive introduction to fly fishing in Montana on the lower Madison River from the Bozeman fly fishing guides with Fins and Feathers.