We feel that flows are important to list this time of the year as the fishing on the Madison River changes dramatically as these flows drop and the river comes in and out shape due to the snowmelt, rain, run off coming from the tributaries and of course Hebgen Dam.  Pay attention to the weather and watch the flows, things have dropped quite a bit in a week’s time.

Madison River Flows

Below Hebgen – 648 CFS …half of last week

At Kirby – 1270 CFS

Varney – 2310 CFS  …1K drop in a week

Between the Lakes

Cabin Creek went in and out of shape this past week due to localized rain showers in the high country but things are shaping up nicely as the month progresses. The river temps below Hebgen Dam have been hovering from 47 - 52 degrees this week.  More rain though is in the forecast so expect the river to stay cooler and for Cabin Creek to pump in more color from time to time.  Fishing down below the dam has been pretty decent, with the cooler morning expect the fishing to start slow and then get better as the river warms up. Rubber leg stones, SJW, epoxy back stone flies, Two bit stone, pheasant tails, jigs and caddis pupa will work well in the pockets and waist deep riffles.  For those who want to fish streamers, BFE or Coffee’s Sparkle Minnow on a floating line are hard to beat this time of the year.  Both of these flies get down quickly and have a great profile.  Fish the pocket water, slow seams below the islands and the banks, we like to cover a lot of water over the course of stream fishing.  Beaver Creek is on the gray side of things but stay tuned as that can change with any afternoon rain shower.

Wade Stretch below Quake Lake

For the time being, the river below Quake lake has around 3 feet of visibility, this could change if Cabin and Beaver Creeks blow out again and the color makes its way through Quake Lake.  Find the slower moving, softer seams around the rock piles and fish the gravel bar edges where they drop back into the main channel.  Rubber leg stones, SJW, epoxy back stone flies, Two bit stone, pheasant tails, jigs and caddis pupa will work well in all the likely places.  Stepping down a fly size or two and fishing two smaller nymphs with some split shot is always worth it if the fish aren’t eating your rubber legs or larger stone fly offerings.

Float Stretch

The Madison below Lyon Bridge still has some color on the left bank, but really, it’s not that big of an issue. Honestly, the float stretch has come into shape and the nymph fishing is pretty solid.  This is not always the case by the second week of June, so pay attention to the rain showers as there is still some snow to come out of the high country way up the West Fork of the Madison. Stay tuned as the best part of the season on the Madison is yet to come!  Nymphing with #12-16 TB Olive Hare’s Ear, #12-16 TB King Prince, #12-#16 Phesant Tails, Rubber Legs, Bullet Quills, Two Bit Golden Stone or Epoxyback Golden Stones will produce