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.
Spring is here and so is the runoff. Fishing can still be very good on the Upper Madison on the right day. Indicator nymphing can be extremely effective, try a Wooly Bugger, Deep Cleaner, Pats Rubber Legs, worms, or egg patterns and follow them up with a small midge or baetis nymph like a Perdigon, Hares Ear, or your favorite jig nymph. If you aren't hitting bottom, add split shot or nymphs with larger beads. This time of year it is very important to carry a variety of split shot sizes and or flies with a range of bead sizes for different sink rates. Another fun way to catch fish on the Upper in the spring is stripping a streamer, smaller baitfish profiles can be great fish catchers as well as streamers with lots of water disturbance and displacement like a Dungeon, Bonds Dragon, or a Kill Whitey.
Parachute Adams (16-20), Purple Haze (18-20), Extended Body BWO (16-22), Griffiths Gnat (18-22), Sparkle Dun (16-20), Buzzball (16-18)
Woolly Bugger Black/Olive (6-12), Mini Loop Sculpin Olive, Natural (6), Mini Dungeons Yellow/White/Black (6), Baby Dragon Sculpin/Black/Yellow/Whitey (4), Sparkle Minnow Smoke/Sculpin/Brown (2-8) Heisenberg Black/ Olive/ White (6), Kill Whitey Black/ Olive/ White (4)
Pats Rubberlegs Black/Coffee, Olive, Black, Orange (4-12), Rainbow Warrior (16-20), Copper John Red/ Copper(16-20), Pink/Natural Quilldigon (14-18), Lightning Bug (16-18), Lil Spanker (16-20), Machines (16-20), Juju Baetis (16-20), $3 Dips (14-18), Steel Worm (6-8), Matt’s Shagadelic Mop, Eggs
