Montana's Premier Trout Fishery

Madison River Fishing Reports

Daily conditions and fly recommendations for Montana's legendary Madison River. Updated every 12 hours with real-time data from USGS gauges and local weather stations.

West Yellowstone, Upper & Lower Madison • Updated Twice Daily

Today's Conditions

Friday, September 4, 2026

Live Data

Updated Sep 3, 7:04 PM MDT

West Yellowstone

Yellowstone Park to Hebgen Lake

Water Temp (West Yellowstone) 62.1°F

Flow Rate (West Yellowstone) 296 CFS

Water Clarity Good

This is a morning fishery right now. The Firehole's geothermal load pushed the park water to 66.9F yesterday afternoon, but cold nights are dropping it into the upper 50s by dawn, so fish first light until early afternoon and then get off. A few early browns are trickling into the Barns Pools, but the real fall run is still a few weeks out.

Full West Yellowstone report

Upper Madison

Hebgen Dam to Ennis Lake

Water Temp (Kirby) 57°F

Flow Rate (Kirby) 875 CFS

Water Clarity Excellent

Hoot owl is lifted as of August 31 and the whole Upper is open all day, with Kirby at 864 cfs and 60.8F. Fishing has been technical, somewhere between tough and pretty good depending on the day, with the best action midday on terrestrials and dry-dropper rigs. Skip the water below Eight Mile Ford, it's been slow in the afternoons.

Full Upper Madison report

Lower Madison

Ennis Dam to Three Forks

Water Temp (McAllister) 62.1°F

Flow Rate (McAllister) 1,200 CFS

Water Clarity Good

The Lower is back in play. Hoot owl came off August 31, the water is down to 62.6F at 1210 cfs, and the fall window is opening a little early this year. Mornings through early afternoon are the productive hours, and Bear Trap Canyon is the best water on the reach if you're willing to walk.

Full Lower Madison report

Plan Your Madison River Trip

Everything you need to make the most of your time on the water.

Fishing Seasons Guide

Month-by-month breakdown of what to expect on the Madison River. From winter midges to the salmonfly circus, know when to visit for your target species and hatches.

View Seasons

Hatch Chart & Fly Guide

Complete hatch calendar with specific fly patterns, sizes, and colors. Match the hatch with confidence using our detailed bug guide and proven pattern recommendations.

View Hatches

Access Points & Floats

Mile-by-mile guide to Madison River access points with GPS coordinates, parking info, and float trip planning. Find the perfect put-in for wade fishing or boat trips.

View Access

About Our Fishing Reports

The Madison River runs 183 miles from Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks, Montana. We monitor three distinct sections, each with its own gauge and its own report:

West Yellowstone: Madison Junction down to Hebgen Lake, inside Yellowstone National Park. Geothermally warmed by the Firehole, so it runs hot in midsummer. Park permit and fly-fishing-only rules apply, season dates vary by section, and it is best known for the fall run of browns and rainbows out of Hebgen.
Upper Madison: Hebgen Dam to Ennis Lake. Cold, clear freestone water with rainbow and brown trout. Home to the famous salmonfly hatch in late June.
Lower Madison: Ennis Dam tailwater to Three Forks, including Bear Trap Canyon. Shallow and slower, so it warms fast in summer and is often under hoot owl restrictions by August.

Each report pulls real-time data from USGS gauges and combines it with weather conditions, historical patterns, and seasonal hatch information to generate specific fly recommendations based on current conditions.

Check the reports daily before your trip. Conditions on the Madison can change quickly with weather fronts, dam releases, and seasonal transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are Madison River fishing reports updated?

Our fishing reports update every 12 hours using real-time data from USGS water gauges combined with current weather conditions. Each report includes flow rates, water temperature, and recommended fly patterns.

Where does the Madison River fishing report data come from?

We pull data from three USGS gauges: Madison River near West Yellowstone (06037500) for the Yellowstone Park reach, Kirby Ranch (06038800) for the Upper Madison, and McAllister (06041000) for the Lower Madison. Our system combines the gauge readings with recent shop reports and historical hatch patterns to generate fly recommendations.

What flies should I use on the Madison River right now?

The current report card above lists specific patterns matched to today's flow and water temperature. Reliable year-round defaults: Pat's Rubberlegs #6-8 (subsurface workhorse), Zebra Midge #18-20 (winter and tail water), Chubby Chernobyl #4-6 (June–July salmonfly), Morrish Hopper #8-10 (mid-July through August), and Parachute Adams #14-20 (fall BWO). For full month-by-month patterns, see the Hatch Chart.

Flow and temperature data from USGS National Water Information System . Weather data from NOAA.