Upper Madison: Everything You Need

The details on one of Montana's most iconic trout streams.

Every fly angler has his or her own goals for a fishing trip. Be it lots of fish, a trophy brown, an epic adventure, or just a casual day in the mountains. Regardless of your ambition, the upper Madison fits the bill. From its trout-filled headwaters at Madison Junction in Yellowstone Park, the Madison meanders down through the epic dry-fly and streamer water on and near Hebgen Lake before bubbling and gurgling down the “50-mile riffle” to Ennis Lake.

The upper Madison has both huge numbers of insects and trout throughout its entirety. It’s the type of river where every day-float or even casual afternoon of wading can produce the most epic day of trout fishing of your life. This section has everything you could ever want or need in a Montana trout stream.

The steady flows and high fish and insect populations can provide fantastic trout fishing every day of the week from spring through winter.

Access
Access is plentiful and extremely easy to find. In the Park, the entire river is easily approachable and open to the public, with wide fields and gentle sloping banks along its entire length. Beyond Yellowstone’s borders, a combination of marked FWP and BLM sites dot the river every five miles or so. These fishing sites and boat launches are some of the best maintained in the state, with designated paths and solidly-built boat launches, allowing anglers to access the entire length of the river by boat or on foot. The Ruby Creek to Varney Bridge section is a particular favorite among float-fishing anglers with its combination of fast riffles and deep holes, while the “Valley Garden” section just above Ennis Lake is a veritable wade-fishing paradise.

Flows
Since the Hebgen Lake dam controls the flow, a very consistent amount of water flows through the upper Madison. Though it can get muddied by snowmelt in early season, the upper Madison (below Hebgen) doesn’t experience the big blow-outs seen on neighboring rivers. As a result, the waters generally remain at a fishable clarity and flow all season long.

When to Go
The steady flows and high fish and insect populations can provide fantastic trout fishing every day of the week from spring through winter. However, anglers seeking truly epic experiences should pay attention to certain seasons and times. The most popular and productive time to fish the upper Madison is during the salmonfly hatch. Usually occurring between mid-June and early July, it’s a time when big, wary trout hurl themselves at three-inch-long stoneflies with reckless abandon. It makes for some of the most iconic dry-fly fishing of the year, as every cast has the potential of connecting with a trophy-sized trout. The summer hopper fishing is outstanding as well. Early fall and late spring are both fantastic times to be on the water as the crowds thin out.

Fish
If you’re looking for action-packed days, the scrappy rainbows, beastly browns, and high populations of mountain whitefish will provide all you can handle. Rebounding from a population drop in the ’90s, the rainbows of the upper Madison are now the most plentiful fish in the river. Ranging from nine to 15 inches on average, these chubby, hard fighting trout can be found in every section of the Madison.

Looking for more of a challenge? The brown trout are exactly what you need. These beautiful fish are more wary than their silver-sided cousins, but with a bit of finesse and some coaxing, they will show up for properly presented dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. In addition to being fairly plentiful, brown trout of the upper Madison can grow to some huge proportions, with fish in the 20- to 25-inch range being fairly common. There’s always the chance of a true monster on the Madison as well.

Row vs. Wade
Both rowing and wading can be extremely productive during most of the year. While the entire middle section of the river can be floated and fished throughout the season, there are two wade-only sections for those without a boat, or for folks seeking a more solitary experience: the outlet of Quake Lake down to Lyons Bridge, and the Valley Garden section below Ennis. Both are accessible by boat, though fishing must be done either on the bank or in the water.

Regs
For up-to-date regulations, refer to the FWP fishing regulations as many sections have special restrictions. If fishing in Yellowstone National Park, the Park Service has its own set of regs and requires a separate fishing license.

Getting There
The best and easiest way to access the upper Madison is along Hwy. 287, south of Ennis. The road parallels the river for its entire length and provides access to plenty of pull-offs and public access points along the way.

Kubie Brown is an outdoor guide and writer living in southwest Montana.