West Yellowstone - 309 CFS. Down from last week. This section will only bump if we get rain and will drop as the summer rolls on. Super warm, hitting 80 degrees most days. The Madison River in YNP is now under a full 24 hour closer all the way to Hebgen Lake. Give it a break, go some where else. 

Below Hebgen - 1100 CFS. This section jumped quite a bit last week due to the need for pulse flows out of Ennis Lake.  This is the coldest section of the Madison River with peak temps hitting 60 degrees. 

Kirby - 1350 CFS. Up from last week due to pulse flows at Ennis Lake. For the most part, river temps are staying cool in the wade stretch but by 2pm the river is hitting 67 degrees. It's a good idea to give the fish a break from 2-6pm as those fish are not too bitey. Get up early and get after it! and then take a break in the heat of the day. 

Varney - 1480 CFS. Up from last week due to pulse flows, not to stable. Plan on going early and give the fish a break from 3pm through the rest of the day. The river below Ruby takes longer to cool back off. 

Hebgen is nearly FULL and sitting at .5 feet from the top. The basin has seen extremely hot temps this past week, but we are back to some cooler weather with precipitation in the forecast. The next 7-10 days is calling for clouds, rain, and cooler weather with a mix of caddis and PMDs.

Get out there and enjoy it all! 

BETWEEN THE LAKES

Flows at Hebgen remain stable, river temps are fluctuating between 55 and 60 degrees - ideal conditions for sure. Cabin and Beaver are a dropping but with any decent rain in the area they could bump up.  Nymphing stone flies, small bead heads or stripping streamers fooled plenty of fish this past week and will continue to work this week as well. Lots of bugs are hatching right now of the caddis, stonefly and mayfly varieties - go fish dry flies and find out why we like it so much. There really isn't anything better than watching a trout eat a floating insect!  Don't forget to carry bear spray either, by now, it should just part of one's daily attire.  

A #8 black rubber leg, #16 olive hot spot jig, #18 Pheasant tail, #16 serendipities, #16 Shop Vac, #16 black Zebra midges, #16 and #18 Juju Baetis, #14/16 Rednecks are all great choices for nymphing. Dries - Iron X Caddis, Corn Fed, Missing links of various sizes and colors, Jojo's PMD, Riffle Riser PMD, Para-shuck PMD, Parashuck Flav, Jojo's Drake, Razorback Golden, Jojo's Golden, Craneflies.  Cover water and you''ll find some good fish looking up. 

WADE SECTION

Fishing has remained solid down in the Wade Section, although some days have been better than others during the recent hot spell of weather. Fish are eating nymphs, jiggy streamers and a plenty of fish are rising at the right time and place. Caddis seem to be on the minds of rising trout, however one should carry various life cycle PMD imitations and some smaller attractor stone flies like Purple or Royal Chubbies in #12-16. Cover water, move quickly and then slow down when you start catching fish - pay attention to the water fish are coming out of and find more of it. Nymphing has been productive with jigs, Shop Vacs, Red Necks, Olive Dips, Zebra midges, Juju Baetis, 101 Stones, Two Bit Stones and Rubber Legs.  BFE, Olive Bouface, Sparkle Minnow, Scuplin Snacks and the Swing Mint are all great streamer patterns for the early morning or late evening streamer chucker.  Dries - Iron X Caddis, Corn Fed, Missing links of various sizes and colors, Jojo's PMD, Riffle Riser PMD, Para-shuck PMD, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner and Chubbies of all colors and sizes. 

FLOAT SECTION

Caddis and mayflies are the name of the game, bringing fish to the surface in the morning hours until around 3pm. We have been fishing dry flies from bank to bank or dry/dropping in the middle or in the trenches off the bank.  The river is in really good shape, but with the pulse flows, things haven't been very stable.  When the river bumps up each day, those fish move around and are not super comfortable. 

Rubber legs, golden stone fly nymphs, small mayfly nymphs, caddis pupa will work just fine if you need to bobber fish. Fishing a chubby and a bead will also do the trick. Or you could fish a single dry fly with a reach cast along the banks, around the gravels bars or in the slicks. Dries - Iron X Caddis, Dusty Old Bat Caddis, Missing links of various sizes and colors, Jojo's PMD, Riffle Riser PMD, Para-shuck PMD, Para Nymph, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner, Micro Chubbies of various colors. 

 Do your part and treat the fish with respect. 

1. Pull over and release those fish on the banks.  
2. KEEP THEM WET. Leave those fish in the net to take pics, or keep them as wet as possible.  Dry hands are terrible for the fish. Try taking a slow mo video of releasing your catch 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.  Just do it. 
5. Fish heavier tippet whenever possible. I fish 3X to my #14 dry flies and 1X(or 8lb Maxima) to the big bugs. 
6. The river is getting warm, so pay attention and fish the appropriate hours of the day.  Give them a break when temps exceed 67 degrees. 

Treat other anglers on the river with kindness and respect - you will catch more fish if you follow this simple rule. When pulling off the bank, give plenty of room to the boats up stream working their way down. The Madison is moving fast and most folks new to rowing a boat don't realize that 100 yards is NOT enough space. When launching your boat and taking out, be efficient, get things done and exit the ramp area. Also, please anchor your boat on the bank when taking a break. Bouncing your anchor down the river is bad form, don't be that person.