Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 8/20/2023


by Tyler Amory August 20, 2023

Nymph, Nymph, Nymph!

Montana

Hebgen: Fishing is good on the lake currently. Anglers are catching fish all over the lake, focus your efforts on glassier, less windy areas. Callibaetis season is here, and so too are the gulpers - cruising around shallow. Hanging/stripping leeches and nymphs has also been productive (more so now with the cold front that moved in ((again 8/19)).
 
Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Flash-a-Bugger, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Thin Mint, #18 BBQ Baetis, #14-16 Turkey Callibaetis, #12 O.S. Buzzer, #16 Found Link Callibaetis, #16 Purple Missing Link, #16 Long Tailed Callibaetis Spinner
 
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 556 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 1018 cfs
Kirby Flows: 1140 cfs

** Flows as of 8 am August 19th, 2023 **

 

Upper Madison: Nymphing a two fly set up will still be your most productive method right now, think smaller if you're nymphing (#16 and smaller). Fish are feeding sparsely on PMD's and BWO's, but expect more eats as the overcast/rainy days continue. Hoppers, beetles, and ants are also beginning to fish well as the month goes on. Streamers should move some fish in the mornings and evenings.
 
Flies: #16-18 Redneck, #16-18 Shop Vac, #16 PMD Split Case #16-18 PMD Loop-Wing, #14 Olive Hot Spot, #18 BWO Comparadun, #16 BWO CDC Comparadun, #16 Pink or Tan Chili-Dog, #14 Butch Sally, #16 Klinkhammer PMD, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #4 Olive/White Barely Legal
 
YNP

The Yellowstone river and its tributaries are open and fishing great! 

Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: 415 cfs
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake : 1770 cfs
Gibbon: 129 cfs
Gallatin near Big Sky: 542 cfs

** Flows as of 8 am August 19th 2023 **

Gallatin: The Gallatin is low, clear, and cold enough that you don't need to be there before 10am. Fish are hesitant to look up, but are rising in the evenings on BWO's and PMD's. Hopper droppers have been fishing well. Ants are beginning to fish very well with other terrestrials like beetles and spruce moths have been fishing too.
 
Flies: #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 Green Lightning Bug, #16-18 Black Krystal Dip, #16 Pink Chili Dog, #14 Royal Chubby Chernobyl, #18 Parachute Adams, #16 Orange Spruce Moth, #18 Tilt Wing BWO, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint PMD, #18 Baetis Cripple, #14 Royal Stimulator, #16 Arrick's Ant

 

Madison/Firehole/Gibbon: As we anxiously count down to the cool fall days of swinging the rivers on the west side of the park, the Firehole is still a bit too warm to ethically fish. The Madison in the park has been slow. The Gibbon above the falls is still cool and fishing well. Try throwing some streamers around the cut banks during these next few overcast days.
 
Flies: #8-10 Partridge and Orange, #8-10 Partridge and Pheasant Tail, #14 Prince Nymph, #16-18 Frenchie, #14 Diving Caddis, #18-20 Parachute BWO, #18-20 Griffith’s Gnat, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint PMD, #16 Royal Stimulator, #14 Larimer's Yellow Sally, #8 Black or Olive Hot Bead Leech
 
Yellowstone/NE Corner: The Yellowstone is fishing well still but should start slowing down as always as august continues. Hunt around for rising cutties when you see bugs flying. The Lamar and its tributaries are all fishing well with fish looking up. Look for fish rising on Sallies, PMD's and Drakes. Pink, purple, and red chubbies, as well as other terrestrials like will also fish well. Streamers should fish well if dries are slow.
 
Flies: #18-20 Parachute BWO, #18-20 Sprout Baetis, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint PMD, #16 Butch Sally, #16 Tilt Wing PMD, #14 pink/purp/red Chubby Chernobyl, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #6 Olive Slump-Buster, #6 Olive/Black Crystal Bugger


We are still booking float, & walk/wade trips for the 2023 season. Give us a call if you have any questions or are looking to book a guided trip.



Tyler Amory
Tyler Amory

Author



Leave a comment


Also in Madison River and Greater Yellowstone Area Fishing Report

Fishing Report - 8/21/2026
Fishing Report - 8/21/2026

by Nina Lett August 21, 2026 1 Comment

The Upper Madison has been in great shape recently. That colder week really helped add some more energy into the river, 

Read More

Fishing Report - 8/14/2026
Fishing Report - 8/14/2026

by Nina Lett August 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.

Read More

Fishing Report - 8/7/2026
Fishing Report - 8/7/2026

by Nina Lett August 07, 2026

The cooler weather on Monday and Tuesday was truly bliss after weeks of 85° and above on the Madison. A few cold nights really did wonders...

Read More