Today's Conditions
Monday, August 17, 2026
West Yellowstone
Yellowstone Park to Hebgen LakeDon't drive to the park. The Madison inside Yellowstone has been fully closed to fishing since mid-July due to heat, and the gauge hit 72°F yesterday evening, so that closure isn't lifting anytime soon. Fish the Upper Madison instead and circle back to this water in late September when the run fish show.
Upper Madison
Hebgen Dam to Ennis LakeThis is the reach to fish today, but it's a morning game. Flows are sitting around 965 cfs at Kirby with the water touching 66°F by evening, and FWP has a hoot owl closure from Eight Mile Ford down to Ennis Lake after 2 p.m. Hoppers and ants are the story, with solid nymphing in the deeper slots when fish won't look up.
Lower Madison
Ennis Dam to Three ForksFishable, but only if you treat it like a dawn patrol. Flows out of Ennis Dam are around 1360 cfs and the water was 67.8°F at 5 p.m. yesterday, which means afternoons are pushing 70. Fish sunrise to late morning, then get off. If you can't be on the water early, fish the Upper instead.