Fly Fishing The Madison River, Montana
Of all the rivers I have fished in my life, the one I consider to be my home is none other than the famous Blue Ribbon water known as the Madison River.
It is where I spent almost every evening dry fly fishing in the summer, and it's where I started my fly fishing life. I have fished the Madison for about 15 years from where the Firehole River and Gibbon River collide in Yellowstone all the way down to Ennis, Montana.
The three main fish species are rainbow, brown trout and whitefish. However, every year or so I hear of someone who catches a cutthroat or grayling, so there are other fish present. The river averages between 1500-2000 fish per mile, and is home to brown trout over 10 pounds.
You can find our selection of streamers online here.
Having said that, I have spent many fish-less days getting my butt kicked by those beautiful, uncooperative trout. I consider the Madison a must for every fly fishing enthusiast, and here are a few tips for when you plan your next excursion.
Best Times to Fish The Madison? When It's Muddy
My favorite time of year to fish the Madison is from late May to early June. In early June, the temperature is normally in the 50s, cloudy and rainy, and the water is chocolate milk... and there is nobody on the river. I have had a few days where I hooked fish after fish without another person in sight. This is a rare occurrence considering in July many will either need to do some considerable walking to avoid crowds, or take a number and wait in line for a hole to open up.
Most people see the cloudy weather and dirty water as a waste of time because the trout can’t see flies. I see it as a perfect time to throw streamers. The trout become more and more active each day as they continue to leave their winter feeding habits behind, and begin to look for opportunities to gain weight quickly. This is why streamers are an ideal choice of ammunition. The murky water makes it hard for the trout to properly identify the food, and see the flaws with the looks of the flies.
Many times, brown trout will follow or short strike my fly because they are curious as to what it is. In my experience, rusty colored Muddler Minnows or Slump Buster streamers in the two to three inch range work best when the river’s visibility is under one-foot. When the dirty water begins to subside, I switch to olive streamers and strip them underneath undercut banks for aggressive browns.
Switch it Up and Throw Some Nymphs
If streamers aren’t doing the trick, a #8 brown Pat’s Rubber Legs with a trailing #14 G6 Caddis will. I like to occasionally rotate out the G6 Caddis with a Three Dollar Dip. My best day on the river was in 2014 using one one of those flies sized #14 in brown with a trailing #14 in olive with the river’s visibility under six-inches.
Fishing isn't entirely about catching. Fishing is about being with people you care about, taking your mind off life's stress and enjoying what is around you.
I have had several wonderful fish-less days where I saw a bald eagle catch a meal, or a deer cross the river or a beautiful sunset. The point is to get outside and go do what you love.
Hopefully, this article inspires you to get outside more and fish the Madison when it's muddy.