Lower Madison River Fishing Report

Lower Madison River Fishing Report

2/12/2026

The Lower Madison River is an incredible angling option all winter long. With it being a tailwater we see slightly warmer water temps here than on most rivers and the fish stay pretty active.

There's not a real reason to try and hit the water right at the crack of dawn, most of the action is happening during daylight hours between 10am and 3pm. When the sun has been on the water for a little over an hour you can expect to see some emergence from midges as long as there isn't too much wind.

Try to rotate through worms, midges, rubber legs, and leeches. Focus on the deepest water you can find and enjoy the day!

Dry Fly activity is picking up.  If you stumble into a warmish cloudy day, find a slow bucket and rotate through your favorite midge patterns first.  The closer we get to March the more the BWO is worth paying attention too, as well.

Dries: Stick Midge Adult #20, Griffith Gnat #18-20, Doc's HV Psuedo #20

Nymphs: Nyman's Shop Vac #16-18, Perdigons (Black, Pearl, Green, Purple) #18-20, Spanish Bullet Perdigon #16-18, Rubber Legs (Black, Coffee/Black, Olive) #10-12,

Streamers: Sex Dungeons, Barely Legals, Copper Zonkers, Sheila's Sculpin, Silk Kitty, Mini Kill Whitey, Li'l Kims have been productive.  Play with color and profile every day. Skinny vs. big heads, dark vs. light, etc.

Our Fly Fishing Guide School has helped lots of anglers achieve their dream of being a fishing guide. With schools throughout the spring and fall, there is likely a week of fishing that will fit your schedule. Check out our Montana Fishing Guide School to become a more rounded fisherperson or to jump-start your career in this amazing industry. 

Even the NY Times has caught wind of the growth of women in the fly fishing industry. Gain the skills to fish confidently on your own in our Montana Women’s Fly Fishing School. 

Thanks for checking out our Madison River Fishing Report brought to you from Big Sky, MT.