Monthly Archives: September 2010

Madison River Dam: 832 cfs Kirby: 871 cfs Indian Summer appears to have finally descended upon the Madison Valley, and with temperatures scheduled to hold in the mid-seventies through next week, it's a great time to head out to the river for what is sure to be the last window of hoppertunity until next year. The wade section continues to be your best bet for consistency and numbers,  particularly around Raynold's and Three Dollar. It's been a little chilly out there, so no need to be out on the river until 8:30 a.m., but it would be in your best [...]

Madison River Dam: 841 cfs Kirby: 903 cfs Its finally warming up out there, but it looks like another cold front is coming our way starting on Monday.  We're not sure if its because of the flows have been stabilized out of Hebgen, but the upper river seems to have really turned on over the last week.  Small baetis nymphs and midges (#18-22) have been the ticket in the mornings, but there hasn't been a lot going on before 9:00 a.m. as temperatures are still lingering in the high 30's to mid 40's by eight.  We have been getting a [...]

Madison River Dam: 870 cfs Kirby: 937 cfs Its been a chilly first week of September in south west Montana, and it doesn't look like its going to be getting any warmer out there for a while.  Flows were dropped 200 cfs on August 31st after a "school bus sized" boulder crushed three gates at Ennis Dam the day before.  They have been running a good amount of water down the lower Madison in order to draw down Ennis lake, thus allowing for a more thorough inspection of the damaged area.  That being said, the colder temperatures and cloudy skies [...]