Upper Madison

Updated 44m ago

Madison · Quake Lake outlet to Ennis Lake / Ennis Dam

🌡️ Water reached 71.4°F in the last 3 days — approaching hoot owl territory

FWP restricts fishing from 2pm to midnight when water hits 73°F for three consecutive days. Fish mornings, land fish fast, and keep them wet.

Fishing Report

Report conditions: 1370 cfs · 59.5°F · ▼ 4.2% 24h · ↑2% median

Flows are stable and just slightly above median for early August, with clear water and cool temps in the upper 50s—no hoot owl concerns yet. Mornings are prime for Trico spinner falls and Callibaetis coming off Hebgen, transitioning into PMDs and Little Green Drakes through midday, with hoppers, ants and beetles worth a shot along the banks in the afternoon. A dry-dropper rig is still the go-to: fish a Chubby Chernobyl trailing a Perdigon or Lightning Bug in the deeper buckets and seams, and be ready for evening spinner activity as light fades. Expect heavy boat traffic on popular stretches, so an early start pays off.

Conditions	Clear, Stable
Nymphing	Olive Perdigon #16, Silver Perdigon #16, Gold Lightning Bug #16, Purple Blowtorch #16
Dry Fly	Pale Morning Dun #16, Little Green Drake #14, Trico #20, Callibaetis #16
Streamer	Sculpin Pattern #6, Streamer, Sparkle Minnows, Mini Dungeons

Based on current conditions and 3 local shop reports · 1h ago

What's Hatching Now

Seasonal Chart →

PMDs Ephemerella inermis

Hook: #14-20

Best dry fly fishing of season; insects get smaller

Dries	Comparadun PMD #14-18 Parachute Adams #12-18 Purple Haze #14-18 Royal Wulff #10-18 Rusty Spinner #14-18
Emergers	PMD Sparkle Dun #14-18
Nymphs	Copper John #14-18 Hare's Ear Nymph #12-18 Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-20 Prince Nymph #12-16

Little Green Drakes Drunella flavilinea

Hook: #14-16

Often overshadowed by PMDs

Consult local fly shops for pattern recommendations

Tricos Tricorythodes minutus

Peak Favorable

Hook: #18-22

Large early-morning hatches

Dries	CDC Trico #20-22 Hi-Vis Spinner #18-22 Trico Spinner #18-22
Nymphs	Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-20

Callibaetis Callibaetis nigritus

Peak

Hook: #14-16

From Hebgen Lake; spectacular numbers

Consult local fly shops for pattern recommendations

Gray Drakes Siphlonurus occidentalis

Peak

Hook: #10-14

Morning spinner falls

Consult local fly shops for pattern recommendations

Epeorus Epeorus spp.

Peak

Evening spinner falls critical after Aug

Consult local fly shops for pattern recommendations

Caddis Trichoptera

Peak

Hook: #12-20

Emerger patterns especially important

Dries	CDC Caddis #14-18 Corn Fed Caddis #14-18 Elk Hair Caddis #14-18 X-Caddis #14-18
Nymphs	Hare's Ear Nymph #12-18

Hoppers

Peak Favorable

Hook: #8-14

Ants/beetles catch more fish than hoppers

Dries	Chubby Chernobyl #6-12
Terrestrials	Dave's Hopper #8-12

Ants

Peak

Hook: #14-18

Terrestrials

Foam Ant #14-16

Beetles

Peak

Hook: #14-18

Terrestrials

Foam Beetle #14-16

Conditions

Near Cameron (Upper)

1h ago

Clear

Flow	1370 cfs · 2.52 ft · 58.8°F
Trend	↑2% med · ▼ 3.5% 24h
Wx	51° · 💨 6 NW · 🌧️ 0% · H: 69° / L: 49°

At Kirby Ranch (Cameron)

59m ago

Clear

Flow	1310 cfs · 2.14 ft · 56.5°F
Trend	↑7% med · ▼ 1.5% 24h
Wx	46° · 💨 9 N · 🌧️ 0% · H: 64° / L: 46°

Below Hebgen Lake (Grayling)

44m ago

Clear

Flow	1190 cfs · 2.01 ft · 58.8°F
Trend	↑13% med · — 0.0% 24h
Wx	52° · 💨 12 NW · 🌧️ 0% · H: 68° / L: 52°

7-Day Flow

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