Fishing Report 8/28/2026
Montana
Flows/Temperatures (as of August 27th; click the name for real-time numbers)
Hebgen Outflow - 760 CFS
Kirby - 875 CFS
Kirby High/Low Temps - 69°/57°F
Cameron - 971 CFS
Cameron High/Low Temps - 66°/59° F
The Weeks Weather Forecast in the Valley
Upper Madison
The Upper Madison is generally in similar shape as last week. The sustained mid-80s weather has made fishing a bit more challenging though. Just like earlier in the summer, fishing is best in the mornings and evenings, with small windows of productivity sprinkled throughout the day. With lower flows coming out of the dam, fish are concentrated within deeper pockets and faster moving water to find refuge from the sun. Rain and cloud cover are on the way (expected to arrive this weekend), so all of that will probably change as the water cools off!
Dry fly fishing is on and off throughout the day, with fish rising for spinners intermittently and some can be coaxed up with a small ant or beetle, especially in the riffles.
On the nymphing side of things, small mayfly-ish emergers in olive or brown are by far the most productive genre right now, with olive and red perdigons taking second place.
Dry Flies - Winna Spinna, Carnage Hopper, Arricks Flying Ant, Parachute Adams
Nymphs - Olive Hot Spot, Mayday Mayfly, BBQ Baetis, Red Neck
Hebgen Outflow - 760 CFS
Kirby - 875 CFS
Kirby High/Low Temps - 69°/57°F
Cameron - 971 CFS
Cameron High/Low Temps - 66°/59° F
The Weeks Weather Forecast in the Valley
Upper Madison
The Upper Madison is generally in similar shape as last week. The sustained mid-80s weather has made fishing a bit more challenging though. Just like earlier in the summer, fishing is best in the mornings and evenings, with small windows of productivity sprinkled throughout the day. With lower flows coming out of the dam, fish are concentrated within deeper pockets and faster moving water to find refuge from the sun. Rain and cloud cover are on the way (expected to arrive this weekend), so all of that will probably change as the water cools off!
Dry fly fishing is on and off throughout the day, with fish rising for spinners intermittently and some can be coaxed up with a small ant or beetle, especially in the riffles.
On the nymphing side of things, small mayfly-ish emergers in olive or brown are by far the most productive genre right now, with olive and red perdigons taking second place.
Dry Flies - Winna Spinna, Carnage Hopper, Arricks Flying Ant, Parachute Adams
Nymphs - Olive Hot Spot, Mayday Mayfly, BBQ Baetis, Red Neck
Hebgen/Quake Lake
Dry fly fishing on Hebgen is my personal favorite activity right now. Fish are cruising within the weed networks, usually starting their morning feast at around 10am. Bigger callibaetis dries have been the most productive for me, but smaller attractors and flying ants are also attracting fish. Getting out there early and finding a good spot to reach those fish before they really begin to rise is the best way to go. Pack a long 4-5x leader, your best cast, along with a good amount of patience and get out there!
Quake is also fishing quite well, with risers coming up closer to the banks than earlier in the summer, making it easier to take a pit stop there as you drive along the valley!
Dry Flies - Parawulff Adams, Para Ant, Long Tailed Spinner Callibaetis
Nymphs - Turkey Callibaetis, Ice Cream Cone, Zebra Midge
Dry fly fishing on Hebgen is my personal favorite activity right now. Fish are cruising within the weed networks, usually starting their morning feast at around 10am. Bigger callibaetis dries have been the most productive for me, but smaller attractors and flying ants are also attracting fish. Getting out there early and finding a good spot to reach those fish before they really begin to rise is the best way to go. Pack a long 4-5x leader, your best cast, along with a good amount of patience and get out there!
Quake is also fishing quite well, with risers coming up closer to the banks than earlier in the summer, making it easier to take a pit stop there as you drive along the valley!
Dry Flies - Parawulff Adams, Para Ant, Long Tailed Spinner Callibaetis
Nymphs - Turkey Callibaetis, Ice Cream Cone, Zebra Midge
Yellowstone National Park
Gallatin - As of 8/21; In between showers, the dry fly bite should still be alright, but nymphing is definitely going to be the most productive as this cooler weather starts up again. Try throwing around some terrestrials, and if that isn't working out, I would try either a small streamer or nymphing something flashy.
Madison, Firehole, Gibbon - As of August 27th, The Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon (downstream of Norris Campground) have been moved to a Hoot Owl Closure, rather than fully closed. This means that all three are closed to fishing with no exceptions after 2pm. The Madison and its tributaries outside the park before Hebgen Lake are under a Hoot Owl closure (2 pm-midnight) as well. We've been over this, guys, even before 2 pm; just fish the Upper Madison or Gallatin if you want better, less lethal fishing.
Yellowstone River - As of 8/21; Above the falls, fish are rising pretty well, mainly in golden or natural colors. The river is quite busy, though, so once you find a riser, throw the rotation of different flies at it until it eats. Heavier droppers like a stonefly nymph are a good option as well if that's your thing.
Northeast Corner - As of 8/21; Soda Butte, Lamar, and Slough were fishing really well before the rain, but definitely got hit by a good amount of water and dirt. From the gauge, it looks to be on course to return to pre-rain levels within the next day or two, but more rain is forecasted, so... might be back to where we started on that front.
Madison, Firehole, Gibbon - As of August 27th, The Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon (downstream of Norris Campground) have been moved to a Hoot Owl Closure, rather than fully closed. This means that all three are closed to fishing with no exceptions after 2pm. The Madison and its tributaries outside the park before Hebgen Lake are under a Hoot Owl closure (2 pm-midnight) as well. We've been over this, guys, even before 2 pm; just fish the Upper Madison or Gallatin if you want better, less lethal fishing.
Yellowstone River - As of 8/21; Above the falls, fish are rising pretty well, mainly in golden or natural colors. The river is quite busy, though, so once you find a riser, throw the rotation of different flies at it until it eats. Heavier droppers like a stonefly nymph are a good option as well if that's your thing.
Northeast Corner - As of 8/21; Soda Butte, Lamar, and Slough were fishing really well before the rain, but definitely got hit by a good amount of water and dirt. From the gauge, it looks to be on course to return to pre-rain levels within the next day or two, but more rain is forecasted, so... might be back to where we started on that front.
See you on the river,
Nina Lett
Assistant Manager & Guide
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Fishing Report - 8/7/2026
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Nina Lett
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