Madison River Fly Fishing During Fall
As the seasons change from summer to autumn across Montana, there are few places more idyllic for the angler than the Madison Valley. Surrounded by the mountains on either side, the river meanders its way north through open grasslands and mixed forest teaming with wildlife and the changing colors of fall.
Brown Trout become aggressive and territorial with the shorter days and cold nights of October. For the persistent angler, the fall months offer the opportunity to find solace while chasing trophy Madison River brown trout throughout the river’s course.
Although winter can arrive at any time in October or November, fly fishing on the Madison River is among the best in Montana during this time of the year
Madison River Fly Fishing Hatches of Fall
Blue-winged olives are the most active of the hatching insects on Montana rivers in the fall and the Madison is no exception. Good numbers and reliable dry fly fishing opportunities can be found on mild, cloudy days from September through November in the Raynold’s Pass and Ennis stretches.
The odd Western Red Quill and Hecuba mayfly can be found on cool, September days but these hatches are sporadic, at best. Tiny Pseudocleon mayflies hatch in prolific numbers on sunny days, but the trout of the upper Madison rarely key into these insects, despite their abundance when active.
Madison River Fly Fishing Techniques for Fall
Nymph and streamer fly fishing are the emphasis for anglers fishing the Madison River in the fall. Traditional indicator rigs with tandem nymphs and on overall length of 4-6’ work well to find the deep trout that lie low in the big holes between Varney Bridge and Ennis.
Streamer fly fishing with a sink-tip line from a drift boat is the best way to hunt for the large Brown Trout that become increasingly active through October. Although they reside throughout the river, the Madison River sections near Ennis historically hold the largest of these incredible specimens.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro Tip
Wade fishing with nymph-rigs near the Valley Garden Fishing Access Site is a fall favorite for many anglers. Although it can be busy with angling traffic, the experienced angler can do well amongst the crowds by focusing on the subtle, mid-river buckets that often go unfished. Simple rigs with weighted nymphs like a Pat’s Rubberleg followed by a small, dark Perdigon can be incredibly productive when the angler finds the right holding water.
Upper Madison River Fly Box for the Fall
Upper Madison River Fly Fishing Guide Trips during Fall
The angling pace changes once fall settles into the Madison Valley with cooling temperatures, both in the air and the water. Later starts to let the water warm are a welcome relief to our Bozeman fly fishing guides after a long summer of chasing sunrises.
This is an excellent time of year for the intermediate or advanced angler to experience fly fishing Montana on the Madison River. Light angling pressure opens more of the river to exploring without the presence of other boats and anglers. Increased hatch activity keeps the trout of the river feeding throughout the day. A wide range of techniques are effective, with nymphing and streamer fly fishing being the norm as we tend to look for a few larger trout this time of year, rather than numbers.
The typical Madison River fly fishing day trip on the upper Madison River is a mix of floating and wading during the fall. We commonly fish streamers while floating and then stop to fish productive runs and holes with nymphs. The occasional dry fly session can be found when conditions are just right, around mid-day.
Guided Madison River fishing trips can be reserved online, via e-mail, or by calling our team of Montana fly fishing experts at 1-406-468-5019. Use our Contact Form to ask us questions, check availability, or for help with building a customized Montana fly fishing itinerary.