Lower Madison River Fishing Report
Date: 07/18/2025
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Lower Madison River has been a challenging fishery this week. Water temps have been hot, and fishing has been difficult in the afternoons. Hatch activity has been sparse in the mornings. Early Mornings are the best window of fishing, specifically from sunrise to around 9:30 am.
With the flows being regularly pulsed and the river under Hoot Owl restrictions, it can make fishing challenging. July is a great time of year to fish our local freestones as an alternative option or for anglers looking for a mid-day to evening float.
Nymphing with crayfish and small attractor nymphs is going to be the most productive. Crayfish patterns and perdigons have been producing the most numbers of trout, fished on a 7-foot tapered leader of 4x fluorocarbon. Crayfish patterns like zirdles and clouser crays are our favorites in tan and natural, running the crayfish pattern as the lead fly with a butano lite brite or a hares ear blowtorch 16-18 inches off the hook bend of the crayfish.
Helpful Articles (click to read):
- Lower Madison River Fly Fishing in July
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Orange Wire Worm
Olive Inferno Gons
Tan Clouser
Golden Thunder Thigh Hopper
Spanish Bullet Tan
Blaze Infernogon
Copper Zonker
Purple Chubby Chernobyl
Lower Madison River Fishing
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.
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