Madison River
Dam: 890 cfs
Kirby: 1,150 cfs
Those who have been waiting patiently for the Upper Madison to explode are finally reaping the fruits of their labor. It seems like the bugs started popping in huge numbers on Wednesday, and the dry fly fishing is as good as it gets right now. PMDs, four different kinds of caddis, Epeorus, Salmon flies, golden stones, and yellow sallies are all making their presence known– we’ve even been seeing a few green drakes and flavs in the mix. Salmon flies and goldens have sprung in between the lakes, and are thickest between the West Fork and a few miles above Ruby Creek, so we’re guessing they should be at Raynolds by Sunday or Monday. Evening caddis action has been huge in the float section, and is just getting started around the Three Dollar/ Raynolds area– The epeorus spinner falls are just beginning as well, so make sure to have a few rusty spinners in your box if you plan on fishing until dark. The dry fly bite can be good all day, and fish are definitely looking up, but nymphing big rubber legs, yellow sally nymphs, PMD nymphs/emergers, and Caddis larva/pupas has been really good from sun up to late morning.
