Current Conditions:
The Lower Madison water temperatures have dropped with the cooler days and long nights and is fishing well. Hoppers can still produce in the afternoon for the patient angler looking for a handful of good surface eats if it is a warm day. The trout are fairly opportunistic this time of year and the bigger fish will be on the hunt for sculpins and crayfish. Smaller technical nymph patterns can also entice decent numbers. There are some good hatches of psuedocleons in the late morning and early afternoon that can bring trout to the surface in some of the slower slicks. Try a double dry rig with a larger parachute trailed by a size 20-24 baetis emerger.
The Month Ahead:
The Lower Madison should continue to be a great option in late September and into October. As we move further into fall expect some of the larger fall baetis on cloudy days to enter the mix. Streamer fishing should improve as fall progresses.
Long Term Fishing Forecast:
Fall is a great time to target the lower Madison. Anglers looking for larger trout can throw streamers in low light windows or entice bigger fish with crayfish patterns under an indicator. Fall baetis can also bring up smaller trout to the surface in October on cloudy days.
