From below Ennis Lake to the headwaters of the Missouri River is the stretch known as the lower Madison River. It cruises through the Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness Area and can get gnarly before calming down and widening out on its final stretch into Three Forks. There, it meets the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers to form the Missouri River.
With the start of winter finally here, the Lower Madison is moving more into winter fishing patterns every day. But this is not a bad thing, if you find one fish there is more than likey going to be more with it. Deep slow holes will hold the majority of the fish this time of year, but they can be found all over so don't get yourself stuck to the deep water. Nymph fishing is going to be most consistent but can also get some really productive midge fishing as well so don't leave that dry fly rod at home. Leeches and crawfish followed by a small perdigon or dip style fly is a good starting point. It is also worth trying larger prince nymphs, backflop jigs, and woolly buggers for point flies too. Keep it simple on your dry flies, Griffiths Gnats, sparkle duns, and buzz balls are hard to beat.
Parachute Adams (16-20), Purple Haze (16-20), Chubby Olive, Royal, Pink (10-16), Sparkle Dun (16-20), X-Caddis Olive, Tan (12-16), Missing Link Caddis Dark, Olive, (12-18), Film Critic (16-18)
Mills Cowbell Cray Tan/ Olive/ Rust (6), Turkey Back Cray Dark, Light (8), Beadhead Rubber Leg Krystal Bugger Brown/Olive/Black (6-10), Hale Bopp Leech (10), , Strolis Micro Head Banger (8)
Pheasant Tail (12-20), BH Hare’s Ear (14-20), Lightning Bug Purple, Silver, Blue (12-16) Black Blowtorch (12-16), Hare's Ear Blowtorch (14-16), Juju Baetis (16-20), Quilldigon Natural, Yellow, Pink (16-18) Iron Sally (12-16), Worms Patterns, Shagedelic Mop
