Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 08/08/2022
Montana
Hebgen: Reports for the lake have varied, but it seems to be getting better. Keep an eye out for fish rising to Callibaetis and tricos on calm mornings. Searching around with an ant pattern can be effective if fish aren’t coming up. Nymphing a tandem rig with a callibaetis and chironomids can be worth your time as well.
Flies: #16 Callibaetis Sparkle Dun, #16 Callibaetis Sprout, #14-16 Turkey Callibaetis,#16 Parachute Adams, #16 Rusty Spinner, #12 O.S Opal Buzzer, #16-18 Pheasant Tail, #14 Olive/Red Nugget, #8 Olive or Black Simi Seal Leech
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 898.1 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 1288.5 cfs
Kirby Flows: 1420 cfs
** Flows as of 12 pm August 7, 2022
Upper Madison Upper Madison:
A few chilly and rainy days, combined with cool overnight temps the past week have helped keep the water temperature down and the fish happy. Nymphing remains your best bet if you are after numbers. We have been fishing mostly smaller rigs (#16-18) lately but have had a few fish eat hopper patterns as well. The terrestrial bite has been inconsistent, but ant and beetle patterns have been productive. Make sure the fish eats your hopper/ant/beetle and turns their head before you set the hook!
Flies: #16-18 Pheasant Tail, #16-18 Black Lightning Bug, #18 Split Case BWO, #16-18 Guide Dip, #14-16 Lake Prince, #14 20 Incher, #16 Olive Hot Spot, #16 Firestarter #12-14 Pink Thunder Thighs, #10-14 Tan Morrish Hopper, #16 Hi-Viz Cinnamon Ant, #16 Parachute Ant, #16 Sparkle Dun, #16 Rusty Spinner #6 Mini Dungeon, #6 Sparkle Minnow Royal Oil
YNP
Gallatin: The Gallatin continues to fish well with terrestrials and small attractor dry flies. The colder nights have kept the water temps extra cold here, so it never hurts to get a later start, or just fish the afternoon and evening hours. Try dropping a nymph a couple feet underneath a smaller hopper pattern if the fish aren’t looking up.
Water Temps on the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison have started to be too hot for ethical fishing, so we recommend finding somewhere else to fish and come back during the fall once water temps cool back down. Instead look towards the Yellowstone River where the fishing has been good.
Flies: #14 Yellow Morrish Hopper, #12-14 Grand Hopper, #16 CDC Flying Ant, #16 Nyman’s Flying Ant, #12 Longhorn Beetle, #16-18 Royal Wulff, #16-18 Purple Parachute
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Madison River Fishing Report - Upper Madison River Fishing Report - Greater Yellowstone Area Fishing Reports
Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 5/8/2025
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: The ice is now officially gone on both Hebgen & Quake. Its been very hit or miss but if you can time it right and get a day with little to no wind, the chironomid fishing has been pretty solid. Streamers have been moving some fish on the less than ideal condition days. Smaller midge nymphs like buzzers and ice cream cones have been the ticket though as of late.
Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 4/18/2025
Hebgen: The Lakes are both still fully iced over and will most likely continue to be for some time.
Peter Greubel
Author