Fishing Locations

The Upper Madison river has been fishing great this last week with the consistent flows and warmer weather. The west fork is pumping some mud and extra water into the system. The river is still fishable, but there will be a lot more color down low than there is up high. Down lower, fish your big stones, big caddis pupa, and streamers. Keep an eye out for caddis popping throughout the day and into the evening. An olive elk hair caddis will get the job done for the rising fish. Up high, clarity is still holding relatively strong. Nymphing has been the most consistent producer with worms, stones, and smaller mayfly nymphs being the best producers. There are also some caddis up this way so keep an eye on the soft water and you may be rewarded with some great dry fly fishing.  Keep an eye on this river, Hebgen lake is full, they are going to have to dump water soon. Be mindful when wading certain sections of the river, even though we are before the flush, the river is still higher than usual. I would expect an even larger bump sometime in the next week or so.  ** The bridge constuction at Varney access began on March 29th and will run through December 2019. Text Varney to 22828 for construction alerts. ** Varney Bridge will be closed May 23rd

Text "Troutfitters" to 313131 for automatic fishing report updates right to your phone.

Fly Pattern Suggestions

Dries| Griffiths Gnat: 16-20, purple haze: 16-20, Matts Midge: 18, Royal Wulff: 16-18, Renegades: 16-18, Purple Para Wulff: 16-18-20, Quigley's Cluster: 14-16,

Nymphs| Zirdle Bug Black: 6, Mega prince: 8-12, Delektable Hurless: 6-10, Lightning Bug Purple or Silver: 16-18, SH Thorax Bead, Tan: 14-16-18, SH Copper John: 14-16, Green Machine PT: 18-20, King Prince:12-16, Coppertone: 6-8, Pat's Rubberlegs: 6-8-10, Copper John Black and Blue: 16-18-20, Green Machine: 16-18-20, Eggs: 8, crystal dip: 16-18 three dollar dip:16, Worms: 12-16

Streamers| Smoke N Mirrors Cream #4, Sparkle Minnow Smoke #4, Complex Twist Bugger White Size #4, Sex Dungeon Rust, Yellow, Black: 2 Silvey's Sculpin Black: 2 Conehead JJ Special: 2-4 Home Invader Yellow, White: 2 Zonkers White, Olive, Natural/Copper: 4-6, Double Screamer Streamer Olive/Black: 2 Circus Peanut Olive: 2 Sculpzilla Black, Dark Olive: 4-8, 2 Dolly Llama white, 8 Baby Gonga white

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More USGS Water Data