Fishing Report - 9/4/2026
Montana
Flows/Temperatures (as of September 3rd; click the name for real-time numbers)
Hebgen Outflow - 759.9 CFS
Kirby - 875 CFS
Kirby High/Low Temps - 61°/54°F
Cameron - 949 CFS
Cameron High/Low Temps - 58°/54° F
This Week's Weather Forecast in the Valley
Upper Madison
After the cool weather and rain, the Madison has been revitalized. The highest water temp we've seen in the last few days was 67°, and you can tell the difference when fishing. Fish are more eager to eat throughout the day compared to the quick on/off bite windows that were the last month. The only downside in the recent weather is the wind; God bless the guides fighting 45-mile-an-hour gusts in the float section. So make sure to check the wind forecast along with precipitation.
Although the rain did slow the dry fly bite down a bit, fish are still rising to ants, beetles, and the occasional baetis hatch. I've had the most luck with smaller, brown/honey ants drifted close to the banks, or a small chubby with a dropper through the riffles and slicks farther from the banks. Small and shiny droppers have been the best bet, so reach for those dirty perdy's or a crystal dip if rises aren't abundant.
Dry Flies - Winna Spinna, Ant Acid, Arricks Flying Ant, Parachute Adams
Nymphs - Olive Hot Spot, Sunburst Perdigon, BBQ Baetis, Red Neck
Hebgen Outflow - 759.9 CFS
Kirby - 875 CFS
Kirby High/Low Temps - 61°/54°F
Cameron - 949 CFS
Cameron High/Low Temps - 58°/54° F
This Week's Weather Forecast in the Valley
Upper Madison
After the cool weather and rain, the Madison has been revitalized. The highest water temp we've seen in the last few days was 67°, and you can tell the difference when fishing. Fish are more eager to eat throughout the day compared to the quick on/off bite windows that were the last month. The only downside in the recent weather is the wind; God bless the guides fighting 45-mile-an-hour gusts in the float section. So make sure to check the wind forecast along with precipitation.
Although the rain did slow the dry fly bite down a bit, fish are still rising to ants, beetles, and the occasional baetis hatch. I've had the most luck with smaller, brown/honey ants drifted close to the banks, or a small chubby with a dropper through the riffles and slicks farther from the banks. Small and shiny droppers have been the best bet, so reach for those dirty perdy's or a crystal dip if rises aren't abundant.
Dry Flies - Winna Spinna, Ant Acid, Arricks Flying Ant, Parachute Adams
Nymphs - Olive Hot Spot, Sunburst Perdigon, BBQ Baetis, Red Neck
Hebgen/Quake Lake
Despite the rain, fish are still rising in full force on the calmer mornings and evenings on Hebgen (and probably are doing so when the wind is blowing, I just can't see 'em). I have had the best luck throwing either a large (~size 14) callibaetis dry, small chubby, or thin damselfly, and if all else fails, I've found great success throwing a callibaetis nymph or large pheasant tail underneath a dry.
The edges of weed mats are still the most productive places to target fish if you're throwing drys, and the deeper stretches between them are a great spot to strip a bugger through. If you are throwing streamers, I'd recommend having them on a longer leader (~9 ft) as that's been working best for me!
Quake is fishing similarly, although risers are a bit more spaced out and keyed into spruce moths as well as the bugs listed above.
Dry Flies - Parawulff Adams, Nyman's Flying Ant, Long-Tailed Spinner Callibaetis
Nymphs - Turkey Callibaetis, Ice Cream Cone, Pheasant Tail
Despite the rain, fish are still rising in full force on the calmer mornings and evenings on Hebgen (and probably are doing so when the wind is blowing, I just can't see 'em). I have had the best luck throwing either a large (~size 14) callibaetis dry, small chubby, or thin damselfly, and if all else fails, I've found great success throwing a callibaetis nymph or large pheasant tail underneath a dry.
The edges of weed mats are still the most productive places to target fish if you're throwing drys, and the deeper stretches between them are a great spot to strip a bugger through. If you are throwing streamers, I'd recommend having them on a longer leader (~9 ft) as that's been working best for me!
Quake is fishing similarly, although risers are a bit more spaced out and keyed into spruce moths as well as the bugs listed above.
Dry Flies - Parawulff Adams, Nyman's Flying Ant, Long-Tailed Spinner Callibaetis
Nymphs - Turkey Callibaetis, Ice Cream Cone, Pheasant Tail
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 September 4th;
The closures on the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon have been lifted. Anglers may fish these rivers from sunrise to sunset per park regulations. The Madison between the YNP boundary and Hebgen Lake is still under a Hoot Owl (2 pm-sunrise) closure. It is still quite early to start hunting for those lake fish coming out of Hebgen, and the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon are still reaching temperatures where fishing is simply unethical. By the middle of September it should be down to a more comfortable level, and we will start seeing those big browns.
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 September 4th;
The closures on the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon have been lifted. Anglers may fish these rivers from sunrise to sunset per park regulations. The Madison between the YNP boundary and Hebgen Lake is still under a Hoot Owl (2 pm-sunrise) closure. It is still quite early to start hunting for those lake fish coming out of Hebgen, and the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon are still reaching temperatures where fishing is simply unethical. By the middle of September it should be down to a more comfortable level, and we will start seeing those big browns.
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
MRO Assistant Manager & Guide
- Nina Lett
MRO Assistant Manager & Guide
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Also in Madison River and Greater Yellowstone Area Fishing Report
Fishing Report - 8/21/2026
The Upper Madison has been in great shape recently. That colder week really helped add some more energy into the river,
Fishing Report - 8/14/2026
The rain and cooler weather I've been anticipating arrived Wednesday afternoon, and as the water temperatures show, we're in for a big change in how the Madison is fishing.
Nina Lett
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