Lower Madison River Fishing Report
Date: 10/02/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Lower Madison River has been one of the better options around Bozeman with the cooler water. Fish are moving around and feeding again, with good numbers holding in the buckets from Warm Springs through Black’s Ford. Lower Grey Cliff and the water farther downstream toward Headwaters have been fishing well too.
Nymphing has been the way to fish it. Crayfish attractors like a deaddrift cray or clouser crayfish in tan, olive, or orange followed by a small perdigon have been getting fish. Black Spanish bullets and orange or purple lightning lite brite perdigons are good choices for the dropper.
It’s worth running a streamer through the better buckets after nymphing them, but right now the indicator rig is getting most of the action.
Helpful Articles (click to read):
- October Fly Fishing in Bozeman, MT.
Stream Flows
View stream flow graph on USGS
Recommended Flies
Dead Drift Crayfish
Rainbow Spanish Bullet
Black and Red Spanish Perdigon
Olive Clouser Crayfish
Olive and Orange Zirdle
Tan Clouser
Tungsten Jigged Prince
Dark Olive Spanish Perdigon
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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