***2026 MT LICENSE SEASON UPDATE***
As of 03/01/2026 all Montana Fishing Licenses, Conservation Licenses and all other recreation licenses are now ONLINE purchase only. Please visit FWP website to obtain your 2026 season licenses.
The Lower Madison has been fishing good lately. Caddis and PMD nymphs are picking up the majority of the fish this week, as well as a blow torch and some green flashy bugs. There is also a good crop of caddis kicking around. There are also Yellow Sallies and Drakes showing their faces. With all the bug life, we have been having good success with the dry dropper rig. The chubby has been one of the better prospecting flies as of late with your favorite dropper underneath. PMD's are a good choice for a dries in the morning and caddis are proving more effective in the evening as the sun starts to go away. The yellow or copper colored dries seam to be getting the most action throughout the day. The water is starting to get hot on the warmer days. This has been shutting down fishing a bit, but the action in the mornings and evenings has been solid on these days. Keep an eye on those temps, if you step in and it feels like bath water fight and handle your fish wisely.
Dries:
Varoius Caddis patterns, like the parachute slick water and snowshoe caddis (14-18), Stubby Chubby (12-14), Purple Haze (16-18), Adam's Parachute (16-18), Adam's superfly (12-14) Royal Wulff (12-14), Lime Trude (14), Chubby (12-16), PMD's 14-18
Nymphs:
Hare's Ear (14-16), Prince Nymph (14-16), Blowtorch (16-18), worms, crayfish (6-8), lil spanker (14-18), frenchie (18), rs2 (16-20), Sunkist (16-18), perdigons (16-18), Zirdle (6-12)
Streamers:
Sparkle minnows, Kreelex minnows, goldie, sculpzilla, jaw breaker, lil kims
