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.
Fishing has been hit or miss on the lower Madison especially with the warmer temps we have been having but there are still fish to be caught! Dry fly fishing has been the most consistent recently with caddis and hoppers having the spotlight. For nymphs, this time of year it is hard to beat a double nymph rig with a crayfish or zirdle up top and a size 16 pill popper, size 14-16 sweetmeat caddis, sz 14-16 pheasant tail, or a size 14-16 frenchie behind the top fly by 12-16".
Hoot Owl Restrictions have started on the lower Madison from Warm springs boat launch to the confluence of the Jefferson river. Which means to fishing from 2pm to midnight daily.
Parachute Adams (16-20), Purple Haze (16-20), Paradrake (10-12), Sparkle Dun (16-20), Film Critic (16-18), X-Caddis (14-18), Elk Hair Caddis (14-20), Stubby Chubby Cinnamon/ Yellow (12-18), Buzz Ball (16-18)
Mills Cowbell Cray Tan/ Olive/ Rust (6), Snapping Craw (8), Mini Peanut Envy (1), Rubber Leg Krystal Bugger Olive (6-10), Hale Bopp Leech Black/ Brown/ Olive (10), Strolis Micro Head Banger (8)
Pheasant Tail (14-20), BH Hare’s Ear (14-20), HE Blowtorch (12-16), Purple/Pink Blowtorch (14-16), Quilldigon Natural (14-18), Perdigons, Olive/ Brown/ Black/ Pink/ Purple (14-18), Iron Sally (12-18), Squirminator (10), Twisted Worm (10), Shagedelic Mop
