West Yellowstone - 309 CFS. back down a little bit this week.  Super warm water, hitting 80 degrees most days. The Madison River in YNP is under a full 24 hour closer all the way to Hebgen Lake. This section is closed until cooler temps prevail. 

Below Hebgen - 1440 CFS. This section jumped 240 cfs several days ago due to the need for pulse flows out of Ennis Lake.  These flows have been stable for 5 days. This is the coldest section of the Madison River with peak temps hitting 64 degrees. 

Kirby - 1560 CFS. She's pretty big right now. For the most part, river temps are staying cool in the wade stretch but by 2pm the river is hitting 69 degrees. It's a good idea to give the fish a break from 2-7pm - they are the same temperature as the river and don't do well under stress from being hooked. If you are fishing, play those fish quickly and keep them wet.  Get up early and get after it and then take a break in the heat of the day.  

Varney - 1730 CFS. Be careful out there if you're new to rowing a boat. Flows through the float stretch have been stable for four days, hopefully these flows stay where they are at.  Plan on going early and give the fish a break from 2ish pm through the rest of the day. There is a Hoot Owl from 8 Mile Ford to Ennis Lake - no fishing from 2pm until midnight. 

Hebgen is sitting roughly 16 inches from full pond.  

Get out there and enjoy it all but give those fish a break in the afternoon.  Find a piece of shade, some cold beers and tell some stories. It just doesn't get any better than this. 

BETWEEN THE LAKES

Flows at Hebgen are pretty darn big. Be careful wading the river and know your own limits. River temps are fluctuating between 58 and 64 degrees - ideal conditions for sure.  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. There are still some PMDs and Caddis hatching right now and a few little Western Stones.  Don't forget to carry bear spray.   

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, Micro Chubbies and Craneflies.  Drop a bead if you like or fish a single dry.  Cover water and you''ll find some good fish looking up. 

WADE SECTION

Fishing has remained solid down in the Wade Section throughout the morning hours until around 2 pm.  If you are wading past your thigh, BE CAREFUL - the river is super pushy and if you go down be prepared to swim your way out. Fish are eating nymphs, jiggy streamers and a plenty of fish are rising at the right time and place. Caddis and PMD spinners seem to be on the minds of rising trout, so are hopper and ants.  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

Spinner, Hoppers, beetles and ants are bringing fish to the surface in the morning hours until around 2pm. Some days, the hopper fishing has been decent ot pretty good - every day has been different down in the Float Stretch. With flows sitting stable for the past four days we hope this section becomes a little more bitey in the days to come. 

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 2X to Hoppers. 
6. The river is getting warm, so pay attention and fish the appropriate hours of the day.  Give them a break when temps exceed 68 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.