Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Current Upper Madison River Fly Fishing Report

Updated 10/23/2026

Current Flow: ~ 820 CFS @ Kirby Ranch and 1080 CFS in Ennis

The Upper Madison has been fishing really well lately, and with the cooler temperatures moving into the area, we should continue to see some good fishing as we get deeper into fall. We've had a pretty warm October so far, but with some snow moving through the area this Friday and cooler temperatures in the forecast, things are definitely starting to feel a little more like late fall in Southwest Montana. It looks like temperatures around Ennis will be in the mid to upper 40s over the weekend, with some colder nights and another chance of rain and snow early next week. This cooler weather should help get the fish more settled into their fall and winter holding patterns, and hopefully get some of those larger fish a little more excited to eat. The river has been running fairly low and clear, so make sure you're checking flows before heading out, especially if you're planning on floating. There's really no need to rush out first thing in the morning right now. Let the water warm up a bit and focus on fishing from late morning through the afternoon. Fish are starting to move into some of the deeper, slower runs and softer seams, but don't completely overlook the faster riffles and pockets just yet.

As far as fishing goes, blue-winged olives have really been the main thing lately, especially when it comes to dry fly fishing. We've been seeing some good BWO activity, particularly on cloudier days and during the afternoons when the fish start looking up. Parachute Adams, extended-body BWOs, Sparkle Duns, Purple Hazes, and smaller CDC Baetis patterns in sizes 16–20 are all good options to have in the box. There are still a few October caddis hanging around, so it's worth keeping an eye out for those as well. Nymphing has been the most consistent option lately, with larger Pat's Rubber Legs, dead-drifted sculpin patterns, and larger prince nymphs all being good choices for your lead fly. Below that, smaller Baetis patterns, pheasant tails, perdigons, Frenchies, and Little Green Machines have all been good options. Zebra midges and smaller $3 Dips are also worth having in the rotation, especially in the clearer water. With the river running low and clear, don't be afraid to downsize your flies and tippet a little if the fish are getting picky. Getting a good drift and making sure you're fishing the right depth can make a big difference this time of year.

Streamer fishing has definitely started to pick up as well, and with these cooler temperatures and more unsettled weather moving through, it could be a really good option over the next several days. Olive, black, brown, and white streamers are all worth throwing, with smaller Dolly Llamas, Sculpzillas, Sparkle Minnows, Mini Dungeons, and other sculpin or baitfish patterns being good options. On cloudier days, don't be afraid to work some of the bigger, darker patterns, and on brighter days, smaller or flashier flies can sometimes be the ticket. Focus on deeper buckets, undercut banks, and structure, and play around with your retrieve to see what gets the fish interested. As the water continues to cool, sometimes slowing things down a little can make all the difference. One thing to keep in mind is that brown trout are well into their fall spawning season, and we're starting to see more fish getting into that mode. Make sure you're watching where you step when wading and keeping an eye out for redds, which are generally lighter-colored patches of cleaned gravel. If you see fish actively spawning, give them plenty of room and avoid fishing to them. There's still plenty of good fishing to be had without disturbing those fish. Overall, the Upper Madison should continue to be a great option as we head toward November and some of our favorite late fall fishing.

Read Our Top 5 Flies for October Blog Post