Upper Madison River Fishing Report
Date: 07/23/2024
Posted by: Toby Swank
The upper Madison River continues to have some of the best fly fishing near Bozeman these days. Cooler water coming out of Quake Lake keeps the fish active throughout the late morning and afternoon hours on the sections upstream of MacAtee bridge.
We have been getting some nice fish to take hoppers in the middle of the river, once the sun gets up in the late mornings. The most action has been on the dropper nymph, fished about 3’ below the dry. We have been fishing small Caddis pupa patterns the last few days as the dropper.
Dragging and dead-drifting Sculpin patterns has been effective in the early morning hours and bringing some very nice Brown Trout to the net. The best success for our guides has been fishing a Sculpin pattern about 5' under a strike indicator with a small Prince Nymph dropper, tied off the bend of the Sculpin.
With the recent heat wave, the Madison river from Ennis Bridge to Ennis Lake has been placed on Hoot-Owl, this means that fishing is closed starting at 2 pm until 12 am. The rest of the river is still open but going early is encouraged when water temperatures are coolest. Check out Montana FWP's website for the most updated information on restrictions in the area.
Click to enlarge
Flows
1410 CFS
On 2024-7-23
Tungsten Jigged Prince
Sweetgrass Hopper
Ginger Sparkle Pupa
Sugar Shaker Sculpin
Experience Montana fly fishing on the upper Madison River with the Bozeman MT fly fishing guides from Fins and Feathers. We have been outfitting fly fishing in Montana for over two decades on the Madison River.
Novice and first-time anglers fishing the Madison can expect a day full of fly fishing learning experiences surrounded by the spectacular landscape of Southwest Montana.
Expert anglers know that the river holds legendary Brown Trout that will slowly rise to a well-presented dry fly or chase down a quick-stripped sculpin pattern while streamer fly fishing.
- $695 for 1 or 2 Anglers Per Guide
- Float Trips With Wading Opportunities
- Use of All Fishing Equipment Is Included
- Single And Multi-Day Trip Bookings Available
- Meet In Bozeman, Ennis, or at launch sites
- Book Online or Contact Us To Learn More
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.