Fishing Locations

The upper madison is seeing major ice in the lower portions of the river with the recent cold weather. It would be best to head up between the lakes or in the walk wade stretch below quake. Nymphing is going to be the most consistent producer for the next few months. With that, think big to small. This is a good time of year to run either a bigger stone fly or sculpin with a midge behind it under the indicator. Hare Sculpins, Dirty hippies, sculpzilla, or pats rubber legs are great bets. Under that a small pheasant tail, hares ear, or zebra midge can really get it done. Streamer fishing can be good right now as well, but focus on the slower deeper runs that have enough current to bring food and enough cover for the big boys to hide. Dry fly fishing will be best in the upper portions of the upper near three dollar and reynolds. These fish may feed on midges for a couple hours in the afternoon if you time it right. When the temperature starts to dip again the lower reaches will freeze, but upper stretches such as three dollar and reynolds are great options all throughout winter. 

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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