The UPPER MADISON RIVER from the outlet of Hebgen Dam to the Ennis Town Ramp is OPEN to fishing, there are no closures in this stretch.  

Madison River Flows:

With the recent on set of a summertime heat wave, NWE has bumped the flows out of Hebgen Dam once again this past week. We could likely see another bump, it all depends on the weather.  Locally in the Hebgen Basin, the clouds keep showing up in the afternoon to help shield the river from the giant orb in the sky, AKA, the Sun.   

Below Hebgen: 1230 cfs

Kirby: 1370 cfs

Varney: 1600 cfs 

Between the Lakes

Things haven't changed much here recently, except for the fact the river is 100 CFS higher than last week due to another bump in flows.  Be careful wading folks, the power of the river is very real at these flows.  This stretch, by far, has the coolest water of any reach on the Upper Madison River.  Today's high temp was 60 degrees and the low was 56 degrees.  Fishing below Hebgen has been pretty consistent with bugs emerging daily.  Caddis, mayflies and various stoneflies are flying around, heading down with an arsenal of dry flies is a good plan. If a fish refuses your fly one time, it's worth changing it out.  

Flies - chubbies of all sizes (swing by the shop and check out our chubbies, we have a serious selection), Riffle Riser PMD cripple, Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, #14 Sparkle Dun PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-14, Last Chance PMD Cripple, Missing Link, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner #14 and #12, #14 PMD Film Critic.  

For those wanting to nymph, try smaller nymphs like BH Shop Vacs, Bullet Quill style Jigs, BH Serendipities, Roza's Pink Hare's Ear, Bead Head PT, Epoxyback Golden Stone, standard Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, AZ Hare's Ear, PTs, Serendipites and the like. 

Wade Section

These higher flows are very noticeable in the reach from Quake Lake to Lyons Bridge.  The river is narrow and the large boulder fields push water around. There are now even more places for the fish to hide and deeper holes for them to take refuge in during the heat of the day. The islands have more water flowing around them and the banks are about as sexy as you can find anywhere in the world. Morning river temps are starting out at 56 degrees but around 5pm things are warming up to almost 68 degrees some days.  Dissolved oxygen in the river plays a vital role in the health of the fishery, let's not forget the Madison River is plum full of dissolved O2. BUT,  please fight those fish quickly, use heavier tippet when possible and keep those fish wet!   1370 cfs is a great flow for the wade section, but be careful when wading thigh deep and deeper.  The river is strong and even the seasoned wade fisherman can get pushed around right now. Fish are eating dry flies throughout the day - caddis, stoneflies of all kinds and PMDs are hatching. There are still some Golden Stone around, but I expect those to  Flies - chubbies of all sizes, Riffle Riser PMD cripple, Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, #14 Sparkle Dun PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-14, Last Chance PMD Cripple, Center Stage Caddis, Missing Link is various colors from #12-#16, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner #14 and #12, #14 PMD Film Critic.

Short leashing a couple of nymphs or fishing a chubby and a long dropper is a great way to cover the water.  Nymphs that we suggest for the wade section are - Hare&Copper, Arizona Hares Ear, Jig Pheasant Tail, Red Neck, Hoover Black, Bullet Quills, Jig Napoleans, #14-#18 Epoxyback Golden Stonefly, Frenchies or Pheasant Tails. 

Float Section

Flows in the float stretch bumped up slightly this week and the fishing is still pretty good.  The tributaries are now coming down but they are injecting cold water into the river.  From Lyons to Palisades, the river is cooler because of the tributaries flowing in and then steepness of the grade.  From Palisades to Varney the river slows down and its time to start thinking about the early start and early off program.  These bigger flows adds more dissolved oxygen to the river and a little more shade on the banks which helps these fish out.  Wednesday's high temp at Varney Bridge was 67 degrees at 4pm. 

Fish are starting to look for ants, beetles and hoppers.  Caddis, PMDs, Flavs and Yellow Sallies are all on the menu.  If you want to nymph, drop a BH off that #8 dry fly and run it.  If you are fishing a dry dropper rig, you're still nymphing, let's not forget that!  The banks, the slicks in the middle, the riffles around the gravel bars all have fish hanging around them. I personally like to fish with a single dry fly these days when targeting rising fish - your drift is just better off, especially in that north wind.  

Flies - chubbies of all colors and sizes, Riffle Riser PMD cripple, Balts's Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, #14 Sparkle Dun PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-14, Last Chance PMD Cripple, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner #14 and #12, #14 PMD Film Critic, Jojo's Rusty, #16 Chubbinator, #8 Pink Morrish Hopper, Thunder Thihgs, Jojo's Royal Ant, Arrick's Ant, Hoovies Ant. 

Nymph fishing under a bobber with smaller bead heads like a AZ Hare's Ear, Red Neck, Hare&Copper, Shopvac, Epoxyback Golden Stones, soft hackle Hare's Ear, various Perdigons will produce some good fishing. 

The summer HEAT WAVE has arrived and we all need to do out part. 

1. Treat the fish with the utmost respect.  Pull over and release those fish on the banks. 

2. KEEP THEM WET. Do you really need another picture holding a trout?  Get creative with your photos.  Leave those fish in the net to take pics.  Take a slow mo video of releasing your prize back to the river. 

3. If your trout swallowed the fly, cut the tippet and leave it in there, no need to jab those hemos down it's throat and make it bleed. 

4. Fish barbless, you don't need that thing if you keep tension on the line.  

5. Fish heavier tippet whenever possible. 

Treat those on the river with kindness and respect, you will actually catch more fish if you do!   When you pull off the bank, give plenty of room to the boats up stream working their way down.  The Madison is moving very fast and most folks who are newer to rowing a boat don't realize that 100 yards is NOT enough space.  Give other boats plenty of room and be cool.  When putting your boat in and taking it out, be efficient, get things done and exit the ramp area.  

LOWER MADISON RIVER - Hoot owl restrictions (2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Madison River ​​from Warm Springs FAS to confluence with the Jefferson River​ beginning July 10.  This stretch of river is on the LOWER MADISON RIVER. 

click here for the most up to date restrictions for the State Of Montana.