Upper Madison River Fishing Report
Date: 06/16/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Upper Madison River is fishing decent and continues to improve as flows settle down.
Most anglers are still finding the majority of their fish below an indicator. pat's rubberlegs, TJ hookers, PMD nymphs, frenchies, and spanish bullet perdigons have all been producing fish. The best fishing has come from slowing down and working through the deeper buckets rather than covering water too quickly.
There have been more fish willing to eat larger flies as well. Chubby-droppers have been productive during the afternoons, and plenty of anglers are already carrying salmonfly boxes even though the hatch hasn't really started yet.
Streamer fishing has been fair. There are a few fish willing to move, but if your goal is simply to catch fish, the nymph rod is still going to be your best bet.
The biggest thing on the Upper right now is that salmonflies could show up at any time. Water temperatures are climbing, anglers are paying attention to the banks, and it feels like we're getting close. Until then, nymphing remains the most consistent way to spend the day.
Additional Resources:
- Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide To June
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Chubby Chernobyl Pteronarcys
Salmonfly Supafly Stone
Brown Pat's Rubberleg
Purple Blowtorch
Brown/Black Pat's Rubberlegs
White Peanut Envy
Spanish Bullet Tan
Gold Lightning Bug
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.
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