Upper Madison River Fishing in June
The peak Montana fishing season on the upper Madison River kicks off in mid-June with the first sightings of Salmonfly shucks on the rocks around Valley Garden, just a few miles downstream of Ennis.
The river reaches peak flows sometime in early June with levels gradually dropping throughout the latter part of the month.
Upper Madison River fishing is at its best during the last 10 days of June as the Salmonfly hatch peaks between Palisades and Varney Bridge.
The Madison Valley is spectacular in June with the deep green veneer of the valley floor in stark contrast to the snow-capped peaks of the Madison and Gravelly Mountain Ranges.
Elk and Pronghorn Antelope are seen in large herds on the glacial moraines above the river while Moose and White-Tail Deer sightings are common along the river. The birdlife along the river is amazing in June with sightings of myriad species of songbirds and raptors recorded while fishing.
The fish, bugs, scenery, and wildlife activity along the river corridor come together to make for truly memorable and authentic Montana fishing outings on the river in June.
June Hatches on the Upper Madison River
Salmonfly, Golden Stone, Caddis, Yellow Sally, Green Drake, Flavs and Pale Morning Dun insect hatches are prevalent on the upper Madison River during the second half of June. Late June is a great time of year for dry fly fishing on the upper Madison River between Raynolds Bridge and Ennis Lake.
Upper Madison River Fishing Techniques in June
Dry fly fishing from a drift boat with large Salmonfly and Golden Stone imitations is the quintessential Madison River fishing fly fishing experience.
Fishing the upper Madison River with tandem Stonefly nymph flies under a strike indicator is incredibly effective during the Salmonfly hatch.
Streamer fishing, especially when the river is slightly off-color with overcast conditions can produce great results in both numbers and average size of trout to the net during June.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro-Tip:
In cooler conditions, Salmonflies exhibit less energy, making a uniform pattern like a Water Walker effective. As temperatures rise, these large insects become more active, fluttering their wings to agitate the water's surface. Tying a Fluttering Stone or a Flutter Bug will more accurately mimic this behavior.
Our Upper Madison River Fly Box for June
Upper Madison River Fishing Guide Trips in June
June is a very busy time of the year for the crew at Fins and Feathers Guide Service on the upper Madison River. The river is busy with anglers from around the world during late June and the experience of our guide staff helps our guests find success among the crowds through careful fly selection and expert boat maneuvering skills.
Expert and novice anglers alike will enjoy the “spectacle” of nature along the Madison River at this time as the air, rocks, and river’s surface are seemingly saturated with hatching insects at various times throughout the day.
Guided fishing trips on the upper Madison will focus on river sections between Lyon’s Bridge and 8-mile fishing access sites during June.
The guides communicate frequently to develop strategies to avoid crowds while keeping our guests in the “thick” of the action. Tactics like early or late starts and avoiding the weekends are a couple of the most successful variations to the standard day that we implore on the busiest weeks.
Our 20 + years of guiding experience on the Madison River gives our guests the best opportunity to experience Montana fly fishing at its best.
Upper Madison River guided day trips can be reserved online, through e-mail, or by calling us at 1-214-809-8197. Our experts are here to help, use our online Contact Form for help with planning your trip or to ask us questions regarding your Montana fishing trip.