Lower Madison River Fishing Report
Date: 10/19/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Lower Madison River has been one of the better fishing options around Bozeman lately, with good water conditions and consistent fishing throughout much of the river. The cooler weather has helped bring water temperatures down, and fish have been actively feeding throughout the day.
Nymphing has been the most consistent approach, with crayfish patterns, zirdles, and smaller perdigons producing fish. Fishing a larger attractor followed by a smaller baetis nymph has been a good setup. Fish have been moving around quite a bit, so covering different buckets and slower runs until you find concentrations of fish is going to be important.
Streamer fishing has also been productive. Olive, brown, and white streamers are worth trying through the deeper buckets and around structure. There have also been some good blue-winged olive hatches, with fish rising in the slower water along the banks. Small BWO patterns in sizes 18–20 are worth having if you come across feeding fish.
Overall, the Lower Madison is fishing well and should continue to be a good option as we move further into October. Brown trout are beginning their spawning season, so anglers should be mindful of redds and avoid disturbing actively spawning fish.
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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