Madison River - Upper
MT
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River
About Madison River - Upper
The Upper Madison River is a premier fly fishing destination in the American West, offering excellent opportunities for both brown and rainbow trout. Access is outstanding along its entire length, from Hebgen Reservoir to Ennis Lake, with numerous state and federally managed lands providing boat launches and wade access. Flows are managed from Hebgen Dam, ensuring relatively stable water levels during the primary fishing season, ideal for floating and wading. Anglers can anticipate significant hatches including midges, baetis, salmonflies, caddis, golden stones, PMDs, and yellow sallys, with terrestrial insects becoming more prominent later in the season. Both float and wade fishing are highly successful, with dedicated wade-only sections offering unique productive opportunities, particularly fishing the evening hatch at Three Dollar Bridge.
Access
Seasons
Terrain
Water
Fish Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Whitefish
Regulations
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Catch & Release: All fish must be immediately released. Handle with care using barbless hooks.
Fishing Styles
undefined USGS Water Conditions
Water conditions for the last 7 days. You can gain insights to fishing activity based on these conditions, like water temperature and flow.
Data sourced from the USGS National Water Information System
Methods
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Wade Friendly
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Float Friendly
Land Ownership
Public Blm
Public Forest Service
Regulations
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Catch & Release: All fish must be immediately released. Handle with care using barbless hooks.
Trip Planning
Best fishing typically occurs during spring and summer. Check water conditions before heading out.
See what insects are emerging on Madison River - Upper's hatch forecast — including active hatches, water temperatures, and which patterns to have in your box this month.