The Upper Madison River originates in Yellowstone National Park and flows through Hebgen Lake, past the town of Ennis, Montana on its way to Ennis Lake. Because river flows are managed from Hebgen Dam, water levels remain pretty consistent throughout most of the fishing season. With gorgeous scenery and great fly fishing, anglers from all over seek out Montana's famed Madison River.
The Upper Madison is one of the most consistent late-winter/early-spring fisheries we have at our fingertips. The water can get slightly off-color, but the fishing stays great. Nymphing Pat’s Rubber Legs, small Pheasant Tails, and worms will be our top picks on the Upper this time of year. Also consider eggs, midges, hot bead euro nymphs, and perdigons as well. If you get a good overcast day, the streamer fishing can be great too. Use your favorite slim-body articulated bug like an Urchin Bugger or Sparkle Minnows. Midges will also be hatching in the slack water behind larger boulders and bends. Watch for fish moving up into the slack water to take Midges off of the surface on overcast days. Also, be mindful walking through and around shallow gravel side channels as rainbows will be starting to move up to spawn.
Parachute Adams (16-20), Purple Haze (18-20), Smith’s BWO Emerger (18-20), Smoke Jumper (16-20), Griffiths Gnat (16-22), Buzzball (16-20), Film Critic (16-20), Chubby Olive/Royal/Purple (8-12)
Woolly Bugger Black/Olive (6-12), Mini Loop Sculpin Olive 6, Baby Gonga Rainbow/Olive/Black, Mini Dungeons Yellow/White/Black, Baby Dragon Sculpin/Black/Yellow/Whitey, Sparkle Minnow Smoke/Sculpin/Brown (2-8)
Copper John (16-20), Pink/Natural Quilldigon (14-18), Pat’s Rubber Leg (4-10), Lightning Bug (16-18), Lil Spanker (16-20), Machines (16-20), Juju Baetis (16-20), $3 Dips (14-18), Worms, Matt’s Shagadelic Mop, Eggs
