The last week saw a fair amount of sunshine, a little bit rain here and there, a bit of warmer weather overall.  The aspens are starting to change and I heard and elk bugle a few mornings ago at sunrise. We had a 28 degree morning this week as well.  This week looks stable with highs in the 70s and night time temps in the 40s.  The precip remains to be seen, but it looks dryer overall. Fall has is here and it feels really good. 

Flows have dropped more than we like and it's getting a little boney out down there.  Want more water in the river? Call or write to NWE in Butte and politely ask them to change the way the elevation is managed in Hebgen Lake.  It's actually managed by a FERC license and FERC requires NWE to keep a certain elevatoin in Hegben through the month of September.  I have been on a river management board for several years and while we are trying to get all parties to come to the table and do what is best for Hebgen recreation users AS WELL AS the Madison River, some folks don't want to meet in the middle. Feel free hit me if up if you have questions and want to learn more about this topic.

You can find me in the shop most days or you can email me: 

--------> joe@bigskyanglers.com

Madison River Flows:

Below Hebgen: 806 cfs

Kirby: 897 cfs

Varney: 1040 cfs 

Between the Lakes

There are mayflies fluttering about, those BWO are around and roughly a size 18 or so. Caddis are still hatching but not in big numbers, but the trout are looking for them. As always this time of the year, don't forget the terrestrial box - those ants, beetles and hoppers are definitely in play. If a fish refuses your fly one time, make another cast or three and then keep moving.  You could change a fly and try a few more casts, but don't hold out too long.  The key, darn near everywhere on the Madison is to cover water and keep moving until you start catching a few fish, then slow down and find similar types of water.  Some days that might be the skinny riffles, some days that might be the pocket water.  Fishing a single fly will help your fly drift with less drag. 

Flies - chubbies in smaller sizes, #18 Iron X Caddis, #18 Jojo's BWO, #18 Sparkle Dun BWO, Baltz's Paranymph #18, Missing Links, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner #16, #8-12 Morrish hopper in various colors, Thunder thighs in pink and tan, Mimic Hopper, Sweat Dream Hopper, Arrick's Ant, Jojo's Honey Ant, Hoovie's Ant, Heames Honey Ant.

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.  This is also the time of the year where a #10-12 Rubber legs will pick up a few fish as well.  Dead drifting a streamer is never a bad idea either. 

Wade Section

Fish the skinny gravel bars and riffles with dry flies, those fish love to hold in those well oxygenated zones.  Don't forget the pockets if you see a handful of caddis or BWO fluttering about. River temps this past week have fluctuated from 54-66 degrees.  Fish are eating dry flies throughout the day, but are not eating them everywhere.  September is here and we are seeing colder mornings, for the time being terrestrials are still in the mix.  Ants, beetles and hoppers. Food for thought - If I had one fly in September to fish it would be ants, unless there are BWO hatching. When the hoppers are clicking on the warmer afternoons, the trout will likely eat them, but they might refuse them as well.  Fish 2x to those hoppers because they really don't care about the diameter of your tippet, some days they actually care about eating a larger fly because they have been educated all season.  

Flies - chubbies of all sizes (the smaller ones are a good choice), Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-18, Center Stage Caddis, Missing Link is various colors from #12-#18, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty and or Cream Spinner #14 and #12, Arrick's Ant, Jojo's Honey Ant, Hoovies Ant, Morrish Hopper, Thunder Thighs, Sweet Dream Hopper, Henneberry Hopper, Dave's Hopper, Heames' Honey Ant and Arricks Ant. 

Short leashing a couple of nymphs or fishing a chubby & a 2ft dropper is a great way to cover the water.  Going deeper, arm's length or so from your bobber to the first fly, is not a bad way to start out the morning - add some weight and get it down.  Flies that we suggest for the wade section are - Hare&Copper, various Serendipities, Shop Vac, #18 Arizona Hares Ear, #18 Jig Pheasant Tail, Red Necks, Hoover Black, Bullet Quills (they all seem to work), Jig Napoleans, Two Bit Hooker, #14-#18 Epoxyback Golden Stonefly, Frenchies or Pheasant Tails, Rubber Legs, Copper Zonker and the TB Ant is sneaky option as well. 

Float Section

Some days have been better than others this past week, but overall, the fishing has been decent in the float stretch.  The morning river temps have cooled down now that September has arrived, but without clouds and rain showers the river will warm up quickly. The hopper bite generally doesn't get going until 12pm or so. There are some nice fish sitting in the shallows and eating ants, but they are also picky and watching your fly for drag. That bank water is worth fishing as is the middle of the river, especially on the sunny days.  The tributaries continue to flow and they are injecting cold water into the river. 

Fish are looking for ants, beetles and hoppers.  Caddis and BWOs on cloudy days are on the menu as well.  If you want to nymph, drop a BH off that #10 dry fly and run it.  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, Balts's Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-16, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty and Cream Spinner #14 and #12, Jojo's Rusty and Cream Spinner #12 or #16, #16 Chubbinator, #8 Pink Morrish Hopper, Thunder Thighs, Jojo's Royal Ant, Arrick's Ant, Hoovies Ant, Sweetdreaam Hopper, Jojo's Honey Ant, Heames Honey 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, Serendipities, Perdigons/Jigs will produce some good fishing. You don't need to be that deep when fishing on the run out of the boat. 

So far, September has been nice and cool with a handful of warmer days. We made it through the hottest part of the summer, but we still need to do our part and treat the fish with respect. 

1. Pull over and release those fish on the banks. Release them in slow current. 
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, or keep them as wet as possible.  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.  
5. Fish heavier tippet whenever possible. 2x to a hopper has been my standard rig and the fish don't care. 

Treat those on the river with kindness and respect, you will actually catch more fish. When you pull off the bank, give plenty of room to the boats up stream working their way down.  The Madison is moving 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.  Anchor your boat on the bank. 

 
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

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