Even with the Lower Madison still under hoot owl restrictions the fishing in the morning has been consistent. Water temps are not rising to dangerous levels, but the forecast for this weekend is calling for hot weather to return, so it may be an additional week or so before the Hoot Owls are lifted. Additionally, with the college kids back in town and the weather still warm, the Lower Madison is still a inner-tube and beer drinking and floating scene for at least another week or so. This means that by the early afternoon when the inner tubers are out, it is also a good time to give the fish a break and head elsewhere.
When fishing the Lower Madison right now, look for some hatches of tricos and midges early in the morning. A few caddis and spruce moths may also be bumping around on the river below Warm Springs. Above Warm Springs and in Beartrap Canyon reports of spruce moths are a little more common. Anglers willing to hike may find some decent dry fly fishing with size 14 and 16 caddis or spruce moth patterns. Fish at least a 9 foot leader tapered to 5X and single dry fly rigs have had more success than dry-dropper rigs. If you are headed into Beartrap Canyon, be sure to read our blog on Fishing Big Canyon Waters.
Anglers on the Lower Madison who commit to fishing terrestrials such as grasshoppers may find a few big fish. But patience is key as not all fish on the Lower are looking up right now. Use natural colored grasshopper patterns like gray, tan, or olive. Choose patterns that have legs that provide a good action in the water. Go a little on the smaller side and choose size 8 or 10. If you are getting some refusals, consider switching to a black ant or a beetle instead of a hopper. Choose size 14 or 16 for ants and beetles.
Streamer anglers on the Lower Madison are still a few weeks out from really having the best conditions. It can happen and persistence might pay off, but with the weed growth on the river at the moment be prepared to take weeds off your fly as much as you are stripping it in. A good technique right now to avoid collecting a lot of weeds is to dead-drift or slowly drag a streamer either with-or-without a strike indicator.
After all is said and done, the best way to find fish right now on the Lower Madison is by fishing tandem nymph rigs. Small beadheads paired with a large morsel like a crayfish or sculpin are the best options right now. Our Montana fishing guides like size 14 Lightning bugs or PTs or size 16 Perdigons or Green Machines.
Fish are still going to be found in the deepest, coolest water possible. Target buckets off of shelfs, cutbanks, and the back end of longer, deeper runs.
Hoot Owl Restrictions are not uncommon on the Lower Madison as the dam that regulates the consistent flow of the river doesn't allow for cold water releases from the bottom of the dam. With some cooler weather in the forecast it is looking like hoot owls may be ending in the next few weeks, but, even if they are lifted, it will be a while before water temps lower enough to where the fishing in the afternoons will be worth it.
Fishing is restricted to only the morning hours from the Powerhouse at Ennis Dam to the confluence with the Jefferson River. Hoot owl restrictions (2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Madison River Footbridge (below Ennis Lake) at NorthWestern Energy powerhouse to confluence with the Jefferson River until further notice.
High water temps also stress trout so it is best to hit this for an early morning visit and then call it good. For any fish that are caught, please fight them quickly and keep them in the water at all times when releasing them. The temps are rising fast so the Lower Madison will most likely be on hold for fishing until we hit September.