Lower Madison River Fishing Report
Date: 08/28/2025
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Lower Madison River is still challenging, but the cooler weather this week has made for some successful mornings. Hitting the water early is still the best bet. Hoot Owl restrictions are still in place. Nymphing has been consistent from early to mid-morning.
Nymphing the buckets and deeper sections has been providing the best. Colder cloudy weather has made for a lot more subsurface activity. Fishing a zirdle, zonker, or wire worm as the first fly in a tandem nymph rig under an indicator, followed by rainbow warrior perdigon, lightning bug, pheasant tail, or olive perdigon.
Streamer fishing throughout mid-morning has been surprisingly successful. Throwing smaller, flashy patterns like single-hook sparkle minnows in white, yellow, and sculpin colors has been the ticket. Still fishing the deeper buckets and stripping the fly slowly or swinging.
Although the river is still under the effects of summer, fishing has picked back up, and we have been seeing decent mornings. Traffic on the Lower has also thinned, so for anglers looking to do an early morning to mid-afternoon float, it’s a great choice right now.
Helpful Articles (click to read):
- Lower Madison River Fly Fishing in August
- Bozeman Fly Fishing in August
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Sparkle Minnow
Golden Thunder Thigh Hopper
Olive and Orange Zirdle
Spanish Bullet Tan
Purple Chubby Chernobyl
White Circus Peanut
Tan Clouser
Dead Drift Crayfish
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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