SEPTEMBER 2025

UPDATED 9/4/2025

Things are beginning to look cooler on the temperature front as we move out of the dog days of summer and enter the fall season. The majority of smoke from the Bivens, McAllister and West Fork fires have dissipated. The river has plenty of water with flows at 971 CFS around Cameron, and Hebgen Lake at 86.5% capacity. We’re looking forward to a smokeless, cool-air filled month of September. 

Dry fly action is still happening as the water begins to warm up in the early afternoon. Fewer and fewer small fish are entertaining the ant, with most of the fish coming up to it being of better quality. Midday hopper fishing is still in play. Fish have been responding well to the twitch.. Fall baetis is just around the corner - be prepared with midge and BWO patterns in your fly box. A cool, cloudy day could start a frenzy.

Streamer and nymph anglers are still getting it done subsurface. The streamer has been the hotter ticket this week with the river being in-between aquatic bug life cycles. Dragging or slow twitching has been more effective than burning your fly as fast as you can. Worms, BWO nymphs, girdle bugs, and caddis patterns are still the m.o. as we work through September.

Do you want to experience the Madison River from a drift boat? Learn more about aquatic insect life? Maybe you want to fine-tune your casting skills? Spend the day with one of our world-class guides on a Guided Fly Fishing Trip!

Hot Flies:

Streamers: Black Dungeon, Olive and Black Screamer, Olive Peanut Envy, Smoke Sparkle Minow, Olive Mini Loop Sculpin, Natural Sparring Partner.

Dry Flies: CFO Ant Black, Yellow Thunder Thighs, Pink Thunder Thighs, Rio’s Juicy Hopper, Parachute Adams, Purple Haze, Missing Link Caddis.

Nymphs: Weiss' Secret Worm Red, Pat’s Rubber legs in Olive and Brown, Frenchie, Rainbow Warrior, Hare’s Ear Blowtorch, Gold Lightning Bug, Black Perdigon.

- MTS Guide Danny Eiden