Montana Fishing Report: Madison River

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Madison River Sponsored by O'Dell Creek Fly Shop
Ennis, Montana

Date	20-Jul-10
Water Condition
Water Temperature

Conditions : Madison River: Upper - Although she's far from red hot like she was a few weeks ago, the Upper Madison is still not fishing terrible, it's just relative and the fish are definitely suffering from their gluttonous salmonfly hangovers up here. The fishing on top has been pretty much tough from every report we've heard, but that hasn't kept a few fish from being taken on smaller dries like caddis and yellow sallies, just don't expect to go up and pitch a size 6 goldenstone and hammer fish, that just hasn't been happening. Smaller nymphs off the back of smaller goldenstones and smaller leech and bugger patterns has been at least decent, but again like we've said, it's not read hot up here. That being said everyone is just waiting around with baited breath for the hopper action to heat up, because when it does fishing should be excellent, until then you might want to consider other options as your first go to right now. If you're nymphing go with some smaller than you might think 18's and 20's up here. I like to fish them below a little larger pattern, just for searching sake, like stoneflies or smaller Delekta Twisted Wire's.

Fly pattern suggestions: Chubby Golden: 6-8-10-12 Chubby Surprise: 6-8-10-12 Little Bit of E: 16-18-20 Purple Lightning Bugs 16; San Juan Worm: 6-8-10 Delektable Brown Stone: 6-8-10 Mr Rubberlegs Hares Ear: 6-8 Mega Pheasant Tail: 6-8 Turds: 6-8-10 Copper Johnson Red: 16-18-20 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Hairy Sculpin Brown & Olive: 2-4 Bow River Bugger Whiteface Blackie: 4-6 San Juan Worms: 10-18, Fathead Tan & White: 2 Sex Dungeons Assorted: 2 Double Screamer Streamers: 2 Bellyache Minnow Tan & Olive: 1/0-2

Lower Madison - Temps are topping the 70 degree range coming over the dam, so unless you're really desperate to look at underage girls in bikini's and obese people in small floaties then this probably isn't the best bet right now. With a bunch of other options the real question is why even bother with this right now. There may be some evening dry fly activity still, but the evenings have been so much better on the Yellowstone and Gallatin, we're leaving this one alone for a while ourselves. Let the trashing of the river begin for yet another summer season.

Suggested Patterns: PBR Cans attached to tarpon hooks and steel leaders, packs of Kool menthol's with slip bobbers and circle hooks...

Reported by: Montana Troutfitters