The Madison River. Known for its big trout, diverse sections, beautiful scenery, thick stonefly hatches, and windy valley, the Madison is many anglers’ favorite trout stream. It’s one of the most famous trout fisheries and is on the bucket list for many anglers around the world. I know many of my readers have fished the Madison, so you know how special a fishery it is.
The Madison is one of my favorite fisheries in the Yellowstone Region, and it is where I’ve learned much of what I know in my young fishing journey. A majority of my fishing days have been on the Madison, and I feel beyond grateful to have this fishery so close to home. Since so many of you love the Madison, I thought it would be fun to share my perspective on fishing the Madison River. In this blog post, I share a little bit about the Madison before breaking it down into its sections, offering my current perspective on what makes each section unique.
Fishing The Madison River
The Madison River begins at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers in Yellowstone National Park. It works its way West and then North, flowing through Hebgen and Ennis lakes before joining with the Gallatin and Jefferson rivers in Three Forks, Montana. Its headwaters reside in the backcountry of Yellowstone, where the Firehole (its largest and furthermost tributary) trickles from Madison Lake.
The Madison hosts healthy populations of brown trout, rainbow trout, and whitefish. One can also catch a Westslope cutthroat or brook trout on occasion. It is consistently in the top three most fished streams in Montana, along with the Missouri and Bighorn Rivers. Ennis and West Yellowstone are the go-to trout towns near the Madison, hosting an unbelievable amount of fly shops that help anglers catch fish on the river.
One of the reasons I love the Madison is its rich history in fly fishing. The fishing and the beautiful scenery of the river have attracted some of the world’s most renowned anglers to the region. Many of these anglers have published a ton of literature on the Madison’s history, techniques specific to the river, and flies designed to fool its trout. It’s safe to say that if you want to know something about fishing the Madison, it is written in a book somewhere.
Sections of The Madison River
Below, I share my perspective on the different sections of the Madison. With so much information already written on the Madison by more knowledgeable anglers than myself, I hope this reads a little differently and has something new for you to learn.
Yellowstone National Park
The section of river between the confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole down to Hebgen Lake is my favorite stretch of the Madison River and may be my favorite piece of water in the region. It takes on a few different profiles throughout this stretch, starting with a spring creek-like section that snakes in and out of sight along the West Entrance Road. It then spreads out into a shallow riffle before deepening at the famous Barns Holes. From Barns down to the lake, it’s a mix of riffle runs, deep pools, and undercut banks.
This section of the Madison is famous for its fall fishing as rainbow and brown trout move out of Hebgen Lake to spawn in the fall. Some of these rainbow trout actually spawn in the fall and late winter, contrary to the common belief that all rainbows spawn in the spring. I have fallen in love with the fall fishing and have fished this run consistently since 2018. The fishing can be phenomenal in this section, but what keeps me coming back is the beauty and style of fishing.
I like to be on the river at sunrise to see the sun illuminate the fall colors and get the first swing through a few runs. The wildlife is plentiful in this stretch, and I have seen many moose, otters, wolves, bison, elk, deer, and bears. Not to mention the birds of prey that frequent the river. Swinging flies is one of the most popular and traditional ways to fish this section. It is one of the only stretches of river where it is common to see as many two-handed rods as single-handed ones, fishing soft hackles designed specifically for the Madison. The big rainbow and brown trout fight hard and are some of the prettiest fish you will catch all season long, no matter the technique.
The one problem with the fall fishing in YNP on the Madison is the crowds. It can get busy, as many anglers travel to the region to swing this stretch of river for the migratory fish. This stretch of the Madison is one of the only places you will see more traveling anglers than locals in the fall months. This is something that comes with the fishery, and there is a community around it, so I have never minded the crowds. There is usually enough fish to go around and a fun time to be had. But the crowds are a thing, and keep many of the local anglers from fishing here consistently.
The fishing in the spring and early summer is worth a trip as well. It gets a variety of hatches, and one can experience epic dry fly fishing throughout June. The crowds are not as bad with many other rivers in their prime season, though you do get plenty of Yellowstone tourists casting a fly rod for the first time. While the majority of fish you come across are smaller resident fish, every once in a while, you get a surprise. The Madison in Yellowstone National Park is heavily influenced by the geyser basins upstream, so it gets too warm to ethically catch and release trout during the summer months.
What I love most about this fishery is its inconsistencies and challenges. It’s unlike our famous tailwaters, which are chock-full of fish and are somewhat predictable. This section of the Madison has fluctuating fish populations and many secrets. It takes work, observation, and a lot of learning to find success, but in my opinion, it is worth the effort.
Between The Lakes
Also shortened to “BTL”, this section of the Madison starts just below Hebgen Dam and runs into Quake Lake. Before an earthquake in 1959, this section of the river ran unimpeded into the Madison Valley. The Earthquake formed what is now known as Quake Lake, making for one of the most unique sections of river in all of Montana. Between the lakes is only a mile or two, but it hosts some of the best fishing along the Madison River.
Between the lakes is one of the most beautiful sections of the Madison River. It’s famous for its cold water, easy access, epic hatches, and big trout. I’d say this section of the river holds some of the biggest brown trout in the Madison River, and they are stunningly beautiful. It’s famous for Bob Jacklin’s “fish of a lifetime,” and it’s safe to say trout upwards of 25 inches are caught in this stretch every year. The combination of easy access and big brown trout makes this section one of the busiest in the state. It’s not uncommon to have 20-40 cars parked in every nook and cranny to fish these few miles of river. And that’s not including the many boats that motor up from Quake Lake to fish the estuary. This holds true even in the spring and fall, when many say the rivers aren’t as busy. Because of this, I only spend a day or two a year in this stretch of river, though sometimes I wish I fished it more.
What intrigues me most about this stretch of river is the estuary, where the Madison spreads out and flows into Quake Lake. The estuary is often crystal clear and hosts consistent insect hatches, making it a phenomenal place to sight fish to rising trout. It’s got bright green weeds intermingled with the many down trees that make the scenery in the estuary one of a kind. Amongst the weeds, big rainbow and brown trout feed on the Madison’s many hatches. It’s a technical fishery with many micro currents that drag your fly, and the fish are accustomed to seeing flies. A long leader and a reach cast are must-haves when fishing the estuary. While it can be a challenge, it’s big trout and epic scenery make it one of the most unique fishing experiences in Montana. I like it best in July, August, and September when the PMD, Trico, and Baetis hatches are strong and many trout are on the surface.
Between the Lakes fishes well all winter long, though it must be noted that this short section of river is a perfect spawning habitat. Tons of trout make their way into this stretch in the winter, spring, and fall to create the next generation. What I am getting at here is that it can get a little messy if you know what I mean. That being said, between the lakes is a must-visit for anglers traveling and living in the Yellowstone Region.
The 50 Mile Riffle
The stretch between Quake Lake and Ennis Lake is often called the 50-mile riffle and is considered the Upper Madison. It’s fast, bouldery, relatively shallow, and with few bends. It’s a hard section to read for beginner anglers or those new to fishing the Madison, but once you develop the eye for it, this stretch of the Madison offers outstanding fishing. The Upper Madison is what many think of when they picture the Madison. It is heavily fished and guided, and it is where most of the boat traffic occurs.
My favorite sections of the Upper Madison are the two wade stretches, from Quake Lake to Lyons Bridge and Ennis Bridge to Ennis Lake. The upper stretch, consisting of the famous Raynolds and Three Dollar Bridge, offers some of the best fishing on the entire Madison River. The dry fly fishing is incredible in this stretch, with many shallow riffles, boulder slicks, and undercut banks where you can find rising fish. Midges, baetis, and caddis make for some of my favorite fishing in this stretch. The float section can be very good, but fishing the Upper Madison from a boat is not my preferred method. With how fast the river is, I prefer to take my time and dissect the river’s many shelves and boulders on foot.
The Upper Madison is also famous for its stonefly hatches, most notably the salmonfly. Just like on any river, the salmonfly fishing can be very hit or miss. It is a casters game, with the most accurate casters finding the most success on any given day. Fishing big bugs can be super fun, and seeing the swarms of stoneflies makes it worth a day, regardless of the fishing. With the bugs come the crowds, and it is not a hatch I have fished much in recent years. In fact, I have rarely fished the Upper Madison in the summer months over the past few years. The reason being the crowds and also the desire to fish new water. The Upper Madison is where I have spent many of my days fishing and learning, so it has been nice to switch it up and see new places.
That’s not to say the Upper Madison isn’t still high on my list as one of the best fisheries in the area, and I never regret a day wading or floating this beautiful stretch.
The Lower Madison
The Lower Madison is the stretch closest to Bozeman and is an interesting trout fishery. The dam at Ennis Lake is a top release dam, meaning the water that flows into the Lower Madison is coming from the surface of the lake. This makes the water temperatures, on average, much warmer than those of other tailwater fisheries in the state. In turn, the Lower Madison is best during the Winter, Spring, and late Fall, as it gets too warm for trout in the summer months. Since it is only a 30-minute drive from Bozeman, it is often my go-to after-work fishery or for when I only have a few hours to fish.
The best fishing and hatches on the lower Madison occur in the spring, making it my favorite time to fish it. The baetis and caddis fishing can be truly epic in April and May, along with a Brown Drake hatch in the middle of June. The Mother’s Day caddis is what many people know the lower Madison for, and it is a must-see. Blanket hatches of caddis fill the air, and if you’re lucky with flows (a big if), they bring every fish in the river to the surface.
Unlike many tailwaters in the region, the Lower Madison lacks the consistency you come to think of when fishing a tailwater. The flows fluctuate drastically, especially in the spring. One day the fishing is on and fish are rising, the next the river is dead as the flows bumped a few hundred cfs. The fishing can vary greatly depending on where you are located on the Lower Madison. Below Ennis Dam and through Beartrap Canyon, the fish populations are strong, and fishing tends to be better. As you get below Greycliff fishing access, trout populations dwindle. This lower section has its time, though, and large brown trout can be caught in this stretch. I have had some of my slowest days of fishing in this lower stretch and have yet to figure it out.
The river’s inconsistency, overwhelming recreational crowd (plastic hatch), and declining trout fishery make the Lower Madison my least favorite stretch of the Madison. That doesn’t mean there aren’t epic days to be had, but I often find myself driving past the Lower Madison to fish one of the many other great fisheries in the state.
Like many anglers, the Madison River will forever hold a special place in my heart. Whenever I spend a day on the Madison, I find myself thinking there are not many places in the world that I would rather be. Whether I’m head-hunting fish on spring baetis at Three Dollar Bridge or swinging through a run near Bakers Hole, I feel at home. If you have never made a trip to fish the Madison River, I will not be the only one to tell you that it is something you must do. Yes, the river has gotten busy, the hatches are not what they used to be, and the fishing can be hit or miss. But with the right mindset, you will have a memorable trip and catch a few fish along the way.
I hope you enjoyed this article on fishing the Madison River. If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the Madison, please reach out. I love connecting with and talking to my few readers out there. As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have plans to fish the Madison River.
4 thoughts on “Fishing The Madison River”
This was by far one of your best writes.
Thanks Dan! I am glad you enjoyed it as I had a blast writing it. 🙂
Excellent blog. Really enjoyed this as i do all of your posts. Your photography is absolutely stunning and professional
Thanks Paul!
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