Montana Fish Report

The Madison in Yellowstone National Park is still high and a little off color. We've had reports of anglers taking nice fish on streamers and nymphs but it is still an unreliable option for dry fly fishing. If you're going to try fishing subsurface on this stretch, seek out good holding water in the riffle areas.


The Madison below Quake Lake is still high and off color but it has fished well subsurface for days on end. If you can get a drag free drift with a Stonefly nymph, San Juan worm, Serendipity or any other nymph you are likely to catch some fish. Be sure to fish the banks because many of the fish have moved into the pocket water. In most cases you will not have to wade at all. Anglers have seen some midges and stray March Browns which bring up a rare riser. But the rises have been sporadic and seldom for the amount of bugs on the water. We still have some time to go before the dry fly fishing gets hot down there. The shop crew has been fishing some of our new big streamers. A few strips only inches off the bank have produced some beautiful brown trout.


The Madison in between the lakes has been fishing well with nymphs and streamers. A Rubberlegs or San Juan worm will give you a good shot at catching a nice rainbow. All the pocket water should be holding fishing but be careful where you step as rainbows are still spawning.