West Yellowstone - 343 CFS. Down from last week, will only bump if we get rain.  Will get lower as the summer rolls on.  Super warm, hitting 75 degrees most days.  The West Side of YNP will likely be shut down here soon to fishing.  

Below Hebgen - 815 CFS.  Pretty darn stable with flows and river temps. 

Kirby - 1100 CFS. Only dropped 10 CFS from last week.  Local rain showers are helping to keep this stable. River temps are staying cool in the wade stretch and lets not forget the high amount of dissolved O2 in this reach. 

Varney - 1300 CFS.  Down about 60 cfs from last week, but stable over all.  Getting a little warmer the past couple of days, so be on the look out for those long hot summer days and rising river temps. Lots of dissolved O2 in this stretch, so keep that in mind when looking at river temps. Usually a good idea to stop fishing in the later afternoon for a few hours and let the river cool back down. 

Hebgen is nearly FULL.  The basin has seen afternoon thunder storms roll through with some regularity helping to replenish the water in the lake. We have yet to see the request for pulse flows on the lower river, but that could come this weekend with daytime temps in the 90's. The next 7-10 days is calling for more sunshine, long hot summer days with caddis, PMDs and Golden Stones hatching. Get out there and enjoy it all! 

BETWEEN THE LAKES

Flows at Hebgen remain stable, river temps are fluctuating between 55 and 58 degress - ideal conditions for sure.  Cabin and Beaver are a slightly off color and dropping down to summertime flows.  If we get rain, these two could blow out for a short time.  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. 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 PMDs 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. There are still some Salmonflies and Goldens around, Salmonflies are less common now but the odd one can be found.  The fish will still eat one if they are in the mood.  

FLOAT SECTION

Caddis and mayflies are the name of the game, bringing fish to the surface throughout most of the day. Fishing this past week has been solid in the upper reaches and fish are cooperating all the way down to Ennis. We have been nymphing or fishing dry flies from bank to bank. The river is in really good shape. 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, Micro Chubbies of various colors. Salmonflies are done for this year, the hatch was a bit off, to say the least.  There are some Goldens around in the upper reaches of the float stretch. 

 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. 

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.