Madison River Fishing Reports

Ain't Life Grand
APRIL 2024 UPDATED 4/12/2024  These last few days have been simply gorgeous in the Madison Valley, and I expect this weekend's weather to be no different. As long as you can put up with some rain, thunder, and potential wind, everything...
TROUT DREAMS
JUNE 2023  UPDATED 6/01/2023  ***DO NOT FLOAT BETWEEN LYONS BRIDGE AND PALISADES FAS***  We’re in the midst of spring runoff in the Madison Valley and water levels are only going up from here. Starting May 26th, NorthWestern Energy will be...
BLACK MUDDY RIVER, ROLL
MAY 2023UPDATED 5/25/2023 We’re in the midst of spring runoff in the Madison Valley and water levels are only going up from here. Starting May 26th, NorthWestern Energy will be increasing the volume of water releases from Hebgen Dam to...
SMOKE 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM!
MAY 2023 UPDATED 5/18/2023 Well, our friendly neighbors to the north are giving us some early season smoke to go along with our increasing temperatures. This of course means that even though we can’t see the mountains, the snow is...
HOT AS A PISTOL BUT COOL INSIDE
MAY 2023 UPDATED 5/12/2023 We are getting closer to summer and it is sure starting to feel like it. The weather over the last week has been going up and down, we’ve had warmer days in the upper 60’s with...
HOW HIGH'S THE WATER, MAMA?
MAY 2023UPDATED 5/05/2023 Welcome to the early days of spring runoff. The Upper Madison is rising with the warmer temperatures and we’re seeing high turbidity closer to town. The West Fork of the Madison is starting to pump in a...
All About Trout
APRIL 2023UPDATED 4/25/2023 Spring has finally sprung here, and we are now in that sweet spot between winter and spring runoff. Both the Upper and Lower Madison are in great shape and have been fishing great! Choose your poison, because...
BEAR GONE FISHIN'
APRIL 2022UPDATED 4/14/2022 With warmer weather on the way, we’ve seen an increase in boat traffic down the main drag. The boat ramps are starting to become more accessible by the day, call the shop for an updated report. As...
SPRING SWING
March 2022 UPDATED 3/31/2022 Well it’s official, we’ve made it to Spring! Let’s see how many more spring snow storms find their way to the valley over the course of the next few months. Looking out the front door of...
You Ain't Gonna Learn What You Don't Wanna Know
March 2022 UPDATED 3/03/2022 Happy Friday, Madison Valley! We’re still well below freezing but the fish are biting for those who are willing to get after it. A solid dusting of snow is currently being predicted from Ennis all the...
ROW, JIMMY ROW.
May 2022 Updated 5/26/2022  Happy Thursday Madison Valley! Let it be known that at approximately 7:07PM on May 17th, John “Tarpon Time” Kelley declared the official start of the Summer season. We’ve seen a mixture of warm sunny days and the...
BRING ON THE SNOW!
May 2022Updated 5/20/2022 Elina here, writing the weekly fishing report. I finished my first year of college last week and started working in the shop! Having only been home for about five days, I have not been out fishing yet,...
MAY ON THE MADISON
May 2022Updated 5/13/2022 The Upper Madison has provided anglers with some great fishing this past week. The streamer fishing has picked up noticeably and the nymphing remains consistent. Black sculpin patterns like a Trevor or Mini Dungeon have seemed to...
MOTHER'S DAY, HOORAY!
May 2022 Updated 5/06/2022  It’s another beautiful spring in Montana. We have had snow, rain, and even some sunshine. We have still mainly been nymphing on the Upper, with a little streamer and dry fly fishing on the way. With our...
THE WIND CAME SQUALLING THROUGH THE DOOR
April 2022 Updated 4/21/2022  As warmer weather approaches in Southwest Montana, the town of Ennis has slowly awakened from its annual hibernation. Restaurants are filling and anglers are beginning to flock to the Upper Madison in waves. The mass migration of...
OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL!
April 2022Updated 4/15/2022 It appears that we’re entering another wild Spring here in the Madison Valley! With temperatures almost reaching 70 degrees last week, the whole Upper Madison opening up, to even a foot of snow recorded here in town,...