Madison River Flows:

Flows at the Dam bumped back up this week, we always welcome more water this time of the year.  Hebgen Lake is a full pond, I really like how Northwest Energy managed things this season.  At this elevation, even in a lower snowpack year like this past winter, Hebgen should always be full by the end of June if not before.  Hopefully we are in a new era of water managment and this pattern continues for years to come. 

Below Hebgen: 955 cfs

Kirby: 1200 cfs

Varney: 1710 cfs

Between the Lakes

Fishing below Hebgen is now in full swing with hatches occurring daily.  Caddis, mayflies and various stoneflies are flying around, heading down with loads of dry flies is the best plan of attack.  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, 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, 101 Stones, Epoxyback Golden Stone, Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, AZ Hare's Ear, PTs, Serendipites and the like. 

Wade Section

Late June is here and all the fun stuff is happening below Quake Lake. Morning river temps are starting out at 55 degrees and the river is in prime shape. The extra 150 cfs that has entered the river over the past few days makes for sexier bank water as those bigger fish love to hang on the banks. 1200 cfs is a great flow for the wade section, but be careful when wading thigh deep and deeper. Things happen fast down there and you don't want to lose footing and go down.  Now is the time to put the bobber rig away and fish dry flies.  Sure you can still nymph em' up, if thats your thing.  Fish are eating dry flies throughout the day, Caddis and PMDs are hatching.   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, 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 or 101 Stone, Bullet Quills, Jig Napoleans, Frenchies or Pheasant Tails.  Medium-sized stones flies and Pat's Rubber legs will produce as the bigger nymphs are moving around. 

Float Section

Float fishing the Madison below Lyon Bridge is a happy place to be.  Various Caddis, PMDs, the occasional Green Drake, and Salmonflies are all on the menu.  Fishing with dry flies from ramp to ramp is a solid plan.  Fish the banks, the slicks in the middle, the riffles around the gravel bars, what ever your pleasure is - go with it. I personally like to fish with a single dry fly these days, your drift is just better off.  There are salmonflies in pockets throughout the float stretch from Windy Point to Cameron Flats.  Some areas are much thicker with bugs than others. 

Flies - chubbies of all 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, Center Stage Caddis, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner #14 and #12, #14 PMD Film Critic, HF Salmonfliy, Jojos Salmonfly, Egg Drop Salmonfly. 

Nymph fishing under a bobber with smaller bead heads like a AZ Hare's Ear, Red Neck, Hare&Copper, Shopvac, 101 Stones, Epoxyback Golden Stones, soft hackle Hare's Ear, various Perdigons will produce some good fishing.  It's a great time of the year to fish with heavier tippet to both flies, there are plenty of beaver sticks on the banks in June post runoff and it's pretty easy to run through a puck flies. 

It can be busy during the Salmonfly Hatch, we recommend staying away from the busy ramps if that bothers you.  Fish above or below the head of the hatch, swing by the shop and ask where the head of the hatch is if you're not sure.  Treat those on the river with kindness and respect, you will actually catch more fish if you do!  If you find yourself floating around too many boats, pull over for thirty minutes and enjoy the views, it sure is pretty down there in the Madison Valley.  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. Treat the fish with the utmost respect.  Pull over and release those fish on the banks.  When taking pics, get out of the boat next to the bank and keep that fish as wet a humanly possible. Fish barbless, you don't need that thing if you keep tension on the line. Fish heavier tippet whenever possible.  I personally use 6 or 8lb Maxima when fishing a Salmonfly with the anglers in my boat.  I generally fish 3X for most of the smaller dry flies on the end of my line. 

The Madison is shaping up for a wonderful season and things are really heating up down on the 50 Mile Riffle.