Madison River Fishing Report

the Upper River fishing has been dynamite!  The big ice jams are starting to clear some so the lower river between 8-Mile and Ennis is a pretty good bet for a float trip.  Rainbows are staging for the spawn so Ennis lake fish are definitely present.  There are a lot of fish that run all the way to the Slide Inn area as well. 

Lower Madison is also a fantastic fishery right now.  Lots of bows moving up into the Beartrap Canyon area.  Nymphing as always is more productive, but now is one of those times of year that suprisingly nice fish can be found and caught on dry flies. Midges have been the staple.

Flow: Upper River 1080; Lower 1450cfs.  Very good flows.

 Hatches: midges

Patterns:

Streamers in black and olive are good bets.  The Sex Dungeon in olive as well as black, Articulated Zoo Couger in olive, Sculpzilla, Delectable Screamers and Double Screamers in olive or black, Lead-eye buggers in black.

Nymphs: Senor San Juan in red as well as wine, small clouser crays for the lower Mad, egg patterns in pink and champagne, size 16-20FB PTs, copper John's, Mighty Mites, Downey Wonder Nymphs in olive size 18, 20, Trina's bubbleback emergers, Downey's masterbaetis, Hogan's Redhead Step child, as well as the venerable lightening bug.

Dries: midges have been the ticket.  Small para adams, H&L variants, royal wulffs matched with disco midge pupa, small pt's, black and red copper johns as droppers.