Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report for 5/28/2026
It Feels Like Summertime in the Valley!
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Guide Jake Schilling led Eddie to this blue cheeked beauty this week
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Montana
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: The lakes are fishing pretty good on the calmer days, we're still stripping buggers, leeches, and chironomids nymphs. Chironomid adults are out in full force and fish have been rising on the days it isn't blowing too hard, but they're a much trickier hatch to fish given their size. Prime callibaetis fishing (and gulpers) is close but not quite rolling yet, but there are definitely fish to be had out on the still water!
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: The lakes are fishing pretty good on the calmer days, we're still stripping buggers, leeches, and chironomids nymphs. Chironomid adults are out in full force and fish have been rising on the days it isn't blowing too hard, but they're a much trickier hatch to fish given their size. Prime callibaetis fishing (and gulpers) is close but not quite rolling yet, but there are definitely fish to be had out on the still water!
Flies We're Fishing:
#16 Griffith's Gnat, #18 Bucky's Midge Cluster, #16 Royal Chubby, #18 Missing Link, #14 Black & Red Nugget, #14 O.S. Buzzer, #16 Lake Prince, #8 Black or Olive Simi-Seal Leech, #8 Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Vegas Booby Leech, #10 Rowley's Pitching Leech Black w/ Chart Bead, #6 Black/Olive Wooly Bugger.
Madison Flows:
Hebgen Lake Inflow: 1274 CFS
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 494 CFS
Kirby Flows: 853 CFS
Cameron Flows: CFS
Water Temp @ Kirby: High 62 F
Low 47 F
Flows as of 12PM May 27th 2026
Water Temp @ Kirby: High 62 F
Low 47 F
Flows as of 12PM May 27th 2026
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Jake and Steve got into some nice wade section fish too!
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Due to a Grizzly Bear dragging a carcass to the river and staying in the area, the river and road below Hebgen and above Quake (between the lakes) from just below Campfire Lodge down to the Beaver Creek outlet is closed indefinitely.
Upper Madison: The weather has been all over the place, 50 degrees and rain/snow one day, to 80 and bluebird skies the next. There's been plenty of bugs down there between some late March Browns, and the typical mix of Caddis and Baetis. The water has been getting dirtier with the warm days and rain mixed in, but the fishing has been pretty good! Nymphing is still your best bet, but there are a few fish rising and streamers will shine in the murkier stuff. Stop in and talk to our staff for more in depth reports/recommendations.
Flies We're Fishing: #16 BWO Loopwing, #18 Split Case BWO, #16 Ram Caddis, #16 Olive Biot Pupa, #16 & #18 TBH Red Neck, #18 Olive SH Hare's Ear, #12 & #14 Black Rubberleg Stone, #16 Firestarter, #16 Ram Caddis, #16 Royal Chubby, #16 Olive X-Caddis, #16 Missing Link, #16 Hot Mess Caddis, #18 BWO Parachute, #8 Black Hot Bead Leech, #6 Mini Sex Dungeon Black or Olive, #6 Copper Zonker
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Guide Tom Forsberg rowed Charlie into this chunky Madison bow
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YNP
YNP
Madison, Firehole, Gibbon: With the recent closure between old faithful and fountain flats being lifted, the Firehole is completely open to fishing again, and its fishing well. keep an eye on your stream thermometers though, as it's approaching 70+ degrees on the warmer days by 2pm. The Gibbon and Madison are fishing decently well too, mostly caddis and a few early PMD's (mostly on the Firehole). Swinging soft hackles is always a safe bet on those rivers too.
Gallatin: The Gallatin is fishing pretty good, but is still very cold. No need to get there at dawn, let her warm up a bit. We've been getting a couple fish on attractor dry patterns in the park section, but most fish are coming to hand on a small mayfly/caddis dropper. With the rain and warm sunny day mix, expect everything downstream of the Taylor Fork to be blown out and muddy for a while.
NE Corner: The Yellowstone wont open until July 1st, and the rest of the rivers up there will most likely be too high to effectively fish until a bit later in the summer.
YNP Flows
Firehole: 302 CFS & 72F by 3pm
Gibbon: 120 CFS
Madison: 454 CFS
Yellowstone Outlet: 2040 CFS
Gallatin: 1450 CFS
Lamar: 3650 CFS
Soda Butte: gage is gone!
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Get out there!
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Also in Madison River Fishing Report - Upper Madison River Fishing Report - Greater Yellowstone Area Fishing Reports
Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report for 5/21/2026
Nice Weather and Plenty of Bugs Are on The Way!
Tyler Amory
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