Upper Madison River Fishing Report
Date: 12/18/2024
Posted by: Toby Swank
The weather forecast around Ennis Montana is looking pretty good to finish out the week. Winter fishing Montana’s Upper Madison River is mostly a nymphing game. Warm days with some good cloud cover can produce some Midge hatches around Three Dollar Bridge and Reynold’s Pass.
Anglers have been doing well fishing small golden Stonefly nymphs followed by a Zebra Midge or small Perdigon pattern. Focus on the slow deep runs, inside bends and the deep buckets in the middle are good for holding fish through the winter.
If you're fishing around Three Dollar and see some heads coming to the surface for midges try fishing a Top Secret Midge or a Griffiths Gnat on a 4x leader. Big spikes in temps can also turn a few fish on to the streamers, Sculzillas and Mini Dungeons are a few favorites.
Please note that regulations changed in 2024, and all lures and flies must be barbless when fishing downstream of Varney Bridge.
Click to enlarge
Flows
800 CFS
On 2024-12-18
Black Zebra Midge
Olive Mini Dungeon
Poxyback Golden Stone
Rainbow Spanish Bullet
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.
