Lower Madison River Fishing Report

Lower Madison River Fishing Report

7/3/2026

The Lower Madison has been on fire over the last few weeks but as we run into warmer temperatures, the bikini hatch is most definitely an issue you're going to run into. We suggest sticking to early mornings or late evening (for the time being, please be sure to check the temps, it heats up fast down here).

We start to avoid the Lower Madison this time of year once the temps start to rise due to weeds, the bikini hatch, and we like to give those fish a break, the stress of 5,000 feet stomping over your head is likely enough.

With the temps sitting where they are, there's an argument to say it's still worth fishing right now, though.

Dries on cloudy days are going to be killer.  Even if it's a singular cloud that rolls over, be ready. It's a light switch for the fish on the Lower Madison.

Dries: Parachute Adams (Gray, Copper) #16-18, PMD DOA #16, Elk Hair Caddis (Tan) #14-18, Cornfed (Tan or Yellow) #14-18

Nymphs: Zebra Jig Thin (Purple, Rusty Brown, Red) $3 Dip(Black, Red, Copper) #16-20, Olive or Pearl Perdigon #16-18, Yellow Hotspot Perdigon #16-18, Lightning Bugs #16-20, Zirdles #10-14.

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.

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