Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report for 8/28/2025
It's Finally Cooling Down in Our Corner of MT
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MRO Guide BJ Stone and his client with a chunky float section brown
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Montana
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: Hebgen is beginning to slow down a bit as the callibaetis become more sparse. The surface action is noticeably slower, especially in the afternoons or when the wind kicks up. The tricos on the inflow side of quake have been pretty thick in the mornings as well. Otherwise the bobber fishing is still solid with leeches, callibaetis nymphs, and chironomid imitations being the ticket under the waves.
Flies We're Fishing:
#16 Found Link Callibaetis, #16 Spinner Long Tailed Callibaetis, #16 Peacock Chubby Chernobyl, #18 Bucky's Midge Cluster, #18 Black, Olive, OR Red Zebra Midge, #14 O/S Opal Buzzer, #14 Olive Nugget, #14 Turkey Callibaetis, #16 Brush Hog, #14 Black/Red Ice Cream Cone, #8 Black Vegas Booby Leech, #8 Black OR Olive Simi-Seal Leech, #8 Hot Bead Thin Mint
Madison Flows:
Hebgen Lake Inflow: 569 CFS
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 805 CFS
Kirby Flows: 897 CFS
Cameron Flows: CFS
Water Temp @ Kirby: High 67 F
Low 60 F
Flows as of 12PM August 27th 2025
Water Temp @ Kirby: High 67 F
Low 60 F
Flows as of 12PM August 27th 2025
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MRO Guide Jake Schilling and client Melissa showing off a snakey float section 'bow
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Upper Madison:
The Upper has been fishing well, the mid-day lull is ever apparent however. While we wait for Trico's and fall baetis; hoppers, Beetles, Ants, and Spruce Moths will all draw some strikes, especially on the windy days. The bugs are pretty tapped out in the wade section so stick to the terrestrials or nymphs. Nymphing has been the most productive but the fish are pretty dialed in on smaller natural patterns, but occasionally a bigger flashy bug can work well. Streamers can still move fish, particularly on the stormy and overcast days we're getting this week.
Upper Madison:
The Upper has been fishing well, the mid-day lull is ever apparent however. While we wait for Trico's and fall baetis; hoppers, Beetles, Ants, and Spruce Moths will all draw some strikes, especially on the windy days. The bugs are pretty tapped out in the wade section so stick to the terrestrials or nymphs. Nymphing has been the most productive but the fish are pretty dialed in on smaller natural patterns, but occasionally a bigger flashy bug can work well. Streamers can still move fish, particularly on the stormy and overcast days we're getting this week.
Flies We're Fishing:
#18 Olive Hot Spot Perdigon, #16 Sunburst Perdigon, #18 S&M Dark Baetis, #18 Purple JJ Baetis, #16/#18 Black OR Red Krystal Dip, #16 Pilva's Perdigon - Olive, #16 Purple Parachute, #16 Nyman's Flying Ant, #14 Black Bionic Ant, #16 OR #14 Royal Chubby Chernobyl, #16 Peacock Chubby Chernobyl, #14 Foam Back Spruce Moth Tan, #14 Yellow Morrish Hopper, #6 Olive/White Barely Legal, #8 Hot Bead Leech - Olive, Black, Brown
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Sunset above McAtee Bridge
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YNP
YNP
Firehole: The Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon - (below Norris Campground) have all been indefinitely closed to all fishing.
Gallatin: The Gallatin is fishing pretty well throughout the whole river. We aren't seeing quite the volume of bugs that we have the past few weeks, so its time to start transitioning to the terrestrial side of things. Beetles, ants, hoppers, spruce moths, etc. should all play on the Gallatin. Hopper dropper rigs are a great way to search the deeper runs and pools up-river of Big Sky.
NE Corner: The Yellowstone River is beginning to slow down a bit. There are still fish to be had but they require you to put in the miles to find them. There should still be some decent fish looking up on PMD's and baetis, but hoppers and beetles are a great choice as well. It's tributaries; (Lamar, Slough, Soda Butte) should all be fishing a bit better, due to higher fish counts and easier wading/access.
YNP Flows
Firehole: too hot
Gibbon: too hot
Madison: too hot
Yellowstone Outlet: 952 CFS
Gallatin: 346 CFS
Lamar: 165 CFS
Soda Butte: gage is gone!
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Get out there!
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a STUD of a brown out of MRO Guide BJ Stone's boat
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Also in Madison River Fishing Report - Upper Madison River Fishing Report - Greater Yellowstone Area Fishing Reports
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