October 4, 2023 Upper Madison Fishing Report
Date: 10/04/2023
Posted by: Toby Swank
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.
Click to enlarge
Flows
953 CFS
On 2023-10-4
Gray Little Green Machine
Brown/Yellow Barely Legal
White Peanut Envy
Tan and Yellow Double Gonga
Upper Madison River Fishing
The Madison River is widely regarded as the premier Montana fly-fishing river. It originates in Yellowstone National Park at the point where the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers meet. The river flows northwards and merges with the Jefferson and Gallatin Rivers to eventually form the Missouri River near Three Forks, Montana.
The upper Madison River is the stretch between the outlet of Quake Lake and the mouth of Ennis Lake. The river is an incredibly productive and unique blue-ribbon trout fishery with wild Rainbow, Cutthroat, and Brown Trout populations.
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.
