Lower Madison River Fishing Report

Current Lower Madison River Fishing Report

Updated 10/23/2026

Current Flow: ~ 1320 CFS below Ennis Dam

The Lower Madison has been fishing really well lately and continues to be one of the more consistent options around Bozeman, especially as we start transitioning into late fall and winter fishing. Being a tailwater, flows and water temperatures tend to stay a little more consistent than some of our freestone rivers, making it a great option close to town when the weather starts changing. With the rain and snow moving through the area this Friday, we shouldn't have to worry nearly as much about runoff or muddy water as we might on the Gallatin or Yellowstone. We're looking at some cooler temperatures over the next several days, with highs generally in the 40s and some pretty chilly nights. Overall, that's not a bad thing for the fishing. There's really no need to get out there super early right now. Let things warm up a little and plan on getting out mid-morning through the afternoon. Fish are starting to settle into their colder-weather holding spots, so focus on the deeper buckets, slower runs, and softer water along the banks. With the cooler weather, we should continue to see some good fishing as we work our way toward November.

As far as bugs go, blue-winged olives have been a great option for dry fly fishing, especially on cloudier days. We've been seeing fish sipping smaller Baetis in the slower water and along the banks, so keep some Parachute Adams, extended-body BWOs, and Sparkle Duns in sizes 16–20 handy. There are still a few October caddis hanging around, so it's worth keeping a few larger orange foam flies in the box, too. Nymphing is still going to be your most consistent option. We're starting to get away from relying quite as heavily on crayfish patterns, but they're definitely still worth fishing as a lead fly, along with red or pink San Juan worms and smaller Zirdles. Below that, Baetis nymphs, perdigons, and your more traditional tailwater patterns have all been working really well. Scuds, pink Czech nymphs, rainbow-dubbed scud patterns with orange or pink beads, and smaller attractor nymphs are all great choices. On cloudier days, more natural Baetis patterns like Juju Baetis, Little Green Machines, and small pheasant tails have been good options. Red and black zebra midges are also worth having in the rotation, especially when the water is clear and the fish are getting a little picky. If you're not finding fish right away, keep moving and working different buckets until you find where they're holding.

Streamer fishing is definitely starting to pick up as well, and with these cooler temperatures and brown trout getting into spawning mode, it's a great time of year to throw some bigger flies. Olive, black, brown, and white streamers have all been worth fishing, with smaller Sculpzillas, Dolly Llamas, Sparkle Minnows, and Peanut Envys being good options. Focus on the deeper buckets, drop-offs, and structure, and don't be afraid to change up your retrieve until you figure out what the fish want. Sometimes a slower strip with a few pauses can make all the difference as water temperatures continue to drop. One thing to keep in mind is that brown trout are still in their spawning season. We're starting to see more fish getting into that mode, so make sure you're watching where you step when wading and keeping an eye out for redds. These are generally lighter-colored, cleaned gravel patches where fish are actively spawning. If you see fish on redds, give them plenty of space and avoid fishing to them. There's still a lot of good water to fish without disturbing spawning trout, and the Lower Madison should continue to be a great option as we move into November and the colder months ahead.

Read Our Top 5 Flies for October Blog Post