The UPPER MADISON RIVER from the outlet of Hebgen Dam to the Ennis Town Ramp is OPEN to fishing.  From YNP boundary to Hebgen Lake and then from the Ennis Town Ramp to Ennis lake is closed to fishing from 2pm to Midnight each day.

Madison River Flows:

It has been a scorcher out there this past week, no doubt about it.  Fortunately, we are entering a cooler period over the weekend and with that in mind, NWE has decreased flows over the past few days at Hebgen Dam.  I bet there will be another reduction heading into the weekend, if so, it would be around 120 cfs. These reductions conserve water in Hebgen Lake for later this summer as we will likely have more heat waves.  Currently, the elevation at Hebgen is two feet from full pond – we are in great shape with regards to water.

Below Hebgen: 1200 cfs

Kirby: 1330 cfs

Varney: 1520 cfs 

Between the Lakes

Things haven't changed much here recently, except for the fact the river has dropper back down. This stretch, by far, has the coolest water of any reach on the Upper Madison River.  Wednesday’s high temp was 59 degrees and the low was 56 degrees.  Fishing below Hebgen has been pretty consistent with bugs emerging daily.  Caddis and mayflies are hatching, heading down with an arsenal of dry flies is a good plan. If a fish refuses your fly one time, it's worth changing to something that is lower profile and sitting in the film.

Flies - chubbies in smaller sizes(swing by the shop and check out our selection), Riffle Riser PMD cripple, Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, #14 Sparkle Dun PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-18, 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, standard Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, AZ Hare's Ear, PTs, Serendipites and the like. 

Wade Section

Even with the flows dropping down, there is still plenty of water in the river right now. At 1330 cfs, there are lots of hiding places and deeper holes for them to take refuge in during the heat of the day. Morning river temps are starting out at 57 degrees but around 5pm things are warming up to almost 68 degrees some days. Take a break from 5-7pm and grab a beer!  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!   1330 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(smaller sallies), cranefilies, and PMDs are hatching.  Look for those big Epeorus Spinners down there as well, they trickle off during the day and then come morning, they spin in huge numbers.

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, two bit hooker, #14-#18 Epoxyback Golden Stonefly, Frenchies or Pheasant Tails. 

Float Section

The float stretch has been pretty pushy this past week with the higher flows, more so in the upper reach between Lyon Bridge and Palisades than say below Palisades down to Varney.  With the flows dropping back a bit, the river will slow down to some extent.  What that really means, is this: your nymphs will be easier to sink!  The tributaries are shrinking but they are injecting cold water into the river so everything helps.

Fish are starting to look for ants, beetles and hoppers.  Caddis, PMDs, Epeorus Spinners, 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 and Cream Spinner #14 and #12, #14 PMD Film Critic, Jojo's Rusty and Cream Spinner, #16 Chubbinator, #8 Pink Morrish Hopper, Thunder Thighs, 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. 

​​Flows are measured below Ennis Reservoir at USGS gage 06041000 and water temperatures are measured at the Sloan gage that is operated by Northwestern Energy, which is near the Blacks Ford FAS.​ 

​​Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Madison River for three consecutive days starting on July 7.​ 

​​Air temperatures over 90 F are anticipated for the foreseeable future with several days approaching 100 F this week. The lower Madison River receives high angling pressure and hundreds of recreational floaters a day during the summer months.​ 

Hoot owl restrictions (2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Madison River ​​​​Hebgen Reservoir to Yellowstone National Park boundary​​ beginning July 10

​​Flows and water temperatures are measured at USGS gage 06037500 near West Yellowstone​.

​​Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Madison River for three consecutive days starting on July 7.

​​Air temperatures in the upper 80s to 90s are anticipated for the foreseeable future. This is the first time a hoot owl restriction has been placed on this section of the Madison River. After receiving feedback from the public and in anticipation of instituting restrictions, this section was included in the designated hoot owl restrictions table for the Madison River  drainage section of the Statewide Management Plan. The recommended closure is limited to the single section of river between Hebgen and the first location upstream that the river crosses the YNP boundary. Difficulty enforcing restrictions in the short sections adjacent to the YNP upstream would be difficult. ​ ​ 

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