Madison River Fishing Report

Madison River Fishing Report for April 11th, 2018

Dam: 1,370 cfs

Kirby: 1,410 cfs

Varney: 1,600 cfs 

Madison River fishing report.  It’s been a while since we had a normal Spring in the Madison Valley, as random weeks of rain and highs in the sixties have been far too common for March and early April in years past.  We had been fishing ice out at Quake and Hebgen for almost two weeks at this time last year, but colder temps and high elevation snow have kept the melt at a very slow pace…which is a good thing by the way.  As of today, the snow pack in the Madison Range is sitting pretty with a moisture content of 123%, with even higher amounts in the surrounding watersheds, so it should be a great water year throughout the Western part of the state.

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Madison River Fishing Report for March 9th, 2018

Dam: 1,100 cfs

Kirby: 1,160 cfs

Varney: 1,240 cfs

Madison River fishing report.  The Upper Madison has been fishing really well lately, and it appears that the deep freeze of February is finally over.  It’s still pretty chilly in the mornings up river, but we are starting to see more highs in the 30’s and low 40’s and it won’t be long until more Spring-like temperatures start to become the norm.  Most of the boat ramps between Raynolds and Palisades are still drifted in with the exception of Windy Point, but you can get in and out from Windy down to Valley Garden if you feel like knocking off the boat cover and getting your oars wet. Lyon’s Bridge is also a possibility, but you’ll have to slide your boat down from the parking lot. Just make sure to scout your takeouts before putting in, and you might want to bring a tow strap and a shovel just to be on the safe side as large snow drifts can happen quickly overnight.

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Madison River Fishing Report for January 26th, 2018

Dam: 996 cfs

Kirby: 1,090 cfs

Madison River fishing report.  The Upper Madison continues to fish well this month, and it looks like we are in store for a little more snow this weekend.  Afternoon temperatures have been fairly mild, with highs in the mid 20’s to high 30’s being the norm, and the wind hasn’t been too bad in the upper stretches between the slide area and Lyon’s Bridge.  

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Madison River Fishing Report for January 9th, 2018

Dam: 996 cfs

Kirby: 1,080 cfs

Madison River fishing report.  We’ve had a bit of a warm spell recently, which has given way to far more pleasant temperatures to fish in than the single digits days we experienced in December.  As is usually the case in January, traffic has been slim to none on the weekdays and you’ll find a few other anglers on the river during the weekends, but it’s been a relative ghost town in the wade section for the most part. Our current snow pack is looking good so far, with a snow water equivalent of 106% in the Madison Range and more  heading our way through Friday evening.  Hopefully we keep getting some much needed snow in the mountains this month in order to keep our rivers and creeks running cold throughout the Summer.

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Madison River Fishing Report for December 13th, 2017

Dam: 1,020 cfs

Kirby: 1,060 cfs

Madison River fishing report.  Fishing on the Upper Madison has been good this December, and temperatures have been relatively mild for this time of year.  That said, there hasn’t been a huge need to get on the water super early, as nighttime temps continue to hover between the single digits and the high teens.  It’s been a little warmer down towards Ennis, but the river has started to get a little slushy down there so you may want to get an update around town if you are thinking of heading anywhere below Varney Bridge. 

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Madison River Fishing Report for November 17th, 2017

Dam: 942 cfs

Kirby: 1,030 cfs

Madison River fishing report. The Upper Madison has been fishing well this November, particularly in the wade section between Quake and Lyon’s Bridge.  The wind situation continues to be biggest issue over the past two months, and none of us can remember a Fall where we’ve seen as many days with gusts in the 30-40 mph range.  That being said, you may want to check the forecast before putting a boat in around here and you can always find a little more protection in the wade section or in the canyon between the lakes.

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Madison River Fishing Report for October 27th, 2017

Dam: 931 cfs

Kirby: 1,020 cfs

Varney: 1,140 cfs

Madison River fishing report.  The Madison Valley has been has calmed down considerably over the last few days, which has been a welcome change of pace from the unrelenting winds that plagued the river for the vast majority of October.  Daytime temperatures continue to hover around 40-60 degrees, and crowds have started to wane throughout the Upper Madison.  All in all, life is good and it’s hard to beat the scenery that Fall brings to the Rocky Mountains.

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Madison River Fishing Report for October 4th, 2017

Dam: 953 cfs

Kirby: 1,030 cfs

Varney: 1,100 cfs

Madison River fishing report.  The Upper Madison is back in full swing this October, and fishing has picked up throughout the entire river.  Flows are still holding at near perfect levels, and we are starting to see more in the way of surface activity with the arrival of Fall Baetis and Midges.  Colder temperatures have kept most of the crowds at relatively low levels, so now is a great time to hit the river.

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Madison River Fishing Report for September 14th, 2017

Dam: 851 cfs

Kirby: 982 cfs

Varney: 1,050 cfs

Madison River Fishing Report.  The Upper Madison has been up and down a lot over the last week, and hopefully some of this cooler weather will stir the proverbial pot of productivity over the next few days.  That said, we’ve had some decent days out there but you’ll have to work a little harder than usual for them.  Flows are holding steady at normal levels for this time of year, and it looks like we won’t have to worry about warm water temperatures for the rest of the season.

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Madison River Fishing Report for August 24th, 2017

Dam: 1,060 cfs

Kirby: 1,200 cfs

Varney: 1,190 cfs

Madison River fishing report.  Fishing on the Upper Madison has improved since our last report, and larger trout have been showing themselves with a little more consistency on all fronts.  Flows are still slightly above average for this time of year, and colder nights have kept water temperatures in good standing for the third week in August.  

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