Upper Madison River Fishing Report
Upper Madison River Fishing Report
9/26/25
Walk Wade Stretch (Between the Lakes, Upriver of Lyon's Bridge, Downriver of Ennis):
Right now, streamer fishing is really starting to heat up. The cooler it gets the more willing fish will be to chase down a streamer and make your day. Fish are still sitting in most water types, so be sure to spend some time in all areas that could hold fish.
The only real hatches that we have happening right now are going to be from Tricos, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, and the odd caddis. With limited bug activity, throwing streamers is a good way to stay busy and get a shot at a very large fish. Throwing prospector flies like rubber legs, worms, or leeches can find a lot of success. Nymph rigs will be the best ways to find good numbers of fish, and using small midge or mayfly emergers will get you to find plenty of opportunity while out on the water.
In the afternoons you can still pick up the odd fish on a hopper, while it is fun, it is not the most effective way to find fish, but we recommend trying it out cause hopper eats rule.
Float Stretch(Downriver of Lyon's Bridge to Ennis):
With most of the biggest hatches in the rear view mirror there are a few strategies that can get you some great action. Throw streamers. Cover water and throw streamers, especially in the morning when that sun first starts hitting the water. We have been liking bright, flashy streamers lately. For the most part our success has come on the flashiest and brightest colors. If it is an overcast day stick to muted colors like brown, olive or black.
Large caddis nymphs are ever present in the river currently and fishing nymphs like large, green lite brite perdigons, or peaches and cream patterns can get some solid action all day long. Try rotating through small sizes of patterns that have CDC collars, soft hackle, or some flash tied in. Right now there is not a whole lot of specific hatches to try and take advantage of but the fish still have to eat.
Dries: Cornfed Caddis #14-16, Garcia's Mini Hot Mayfly(Purple) #16-18, Micro-Chubby(Black, Purple) #18, Parachute Hopper (Tan) #14, Keller's Henneberry Hopper (Yellow) #12, Mini Flopper (Black, Purple) #12, Dornan's Micro w/ Cheese #14-16, Film Critic PMD #18
Nymphs:$3 Dip(Black, Red, Copper) #16-20, Prince Nymph #14-16, Olive or Pearl Perdigon #16-18, Olive Hotspot Perdigon #16-18, Lightning Bugs #16-20, Lite Brite Perdigon (Green) #14-18, Pat's Rubber Legs #10-14, Bloom's Tungsten Dart #18, Pearl and Orange Jig #16, Rainbow Warrior (Red) #18-20
Streamers:Sex Dungeons, Barely Legal, Sparkle Minnows and Zonkers will move fish for you. Play with color and profile every day. Skinny vs. big heads, dark vs. light, etc. Don't be afraid to throw a streamer under your indicator and dead drift it!
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Thanks for checking out our Madison River Fishing Report brought to you from Big Sky, MT.
