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October 4, 2023 Upper Madison Fishing Report

Date: 10/04/2023
Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

Brown Trout are getting more active each day now that the weather is feeling like Fall. The areas of the Madison River, near Ennis, Montana offer great access to areas where fish congregate prior to spawning. 

We have had anglers fishing a variety of streamers and tandem nymph rigs with improved success (compared to last week) throughout the day. Getting out of the boat or just wading has been more productive than fishing from the boat now that water temperatures are on the decline.

Fishing streamers has been really fun and productive the last few days with a wide range of flies getting it done. We like starting the day with lighter-colored streamers in White or Yellow as they are easy to see, helping the angler determine if fish are responding to varied retrieves.

Nymphing has greatly improved the last few days with a typical fall Montana fly fishing setup like San Juan Worms or Pat's Rubberlegs as the lead fly followed by a small Pheasant Tail variation fished under a strike indicator. Fish are holding in the deeper buckets right now, so it is worth taking your time to find the drop-offs and add weight to help your flies sink quickly 

We offer Madison River guided fly-fishing trips throughout the year to anglers of all skill levels. Learn more about our guided fly-fishing options, you can place a reservation online or via e-mail. Reach out to our Bozeman fly fishing guide service using our Contact Form with questions regarding fly fishing the Madison River.

Stream Flows

October 4, 2023 Upper Madison Fishing Report Streamflow

Flows

Recommended Flies

				  Little green machine gray

Gray Little Green Machine

				  Brown Yellow Barely Legal

Brown/Yellow Barely Legal

				  18 3540 w 2

White Peanut Envy

				  The Tan and Yellow Double Gonga is the best fly for streamer fly fishing in Montana on large rivers.

Tan and Yellow Double Gonga

Upper Madison River Fishing

The Fins and Feathers "Upper Madison River Fishing Guide" features a comprehensive overview of the river stretches and seasonal highlights with Madison River fishing tips from our Bozeman fly fishing guide staff.