Current Conditions:
The temps on the Lower Madison are dropping, and fishing has been very good. Hopper fishing is an option, although it is rarely red hot on the surface. The fish are definitely looking for big pieces of meat, including crayfish and baitfish. Stripping streamers is productive with cloud cover, and nymphing something big like a Zonker or crayfish trailed by a small attractor nymph or baetis nymph can be deadly. Pay attention to the water where you are pulling fish out of, and then search for similar water to establish a pattern. Trout are on the move this time of year, so the water you found them in yesterday may not be where they are a few days later as temps continue to drop. The fish haven’t seen a lot of flies all summer, so heavier tippet is fine, such as 3x to the top fly and 4x to the bottom.
The Month Ahead:
The Lower Madison River near Big Sky and Bozeman should continue to fish well late into the fall. As we move into late October and November, egg patterns should be considered as an option behind a streamer or crayfish pattern.
Long Term Fishing Forecast:
The Lower Madison is a great local option all fall and winter for fly fishing trips near Bozeman and Big Sky. Trout will slide into the deeper slower runs as water temps drop off.
Visit Our Shop for These Top Lower Madison Flies Right Now:
Juju beatis in sizes 16-22
Lightning bugs in silver or gold in sizes 16-22
Perdigons in sizes 16-22
Clouser crayfish in size 10
Zebra Midge in sizes 14-22
White Zonker in size 6
Brown, olive, black, or tan Zurdle in size 8-12
Para Adams in size 12-22
Pat's Rubberlegs in coffee/black in size 6-10
BH Pheasant Tail in size 12-16
Beaded SJ Worms in size 10
BH Prince in size 12-16
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