We're Starting to get Rolling Here in West Yellowstone!
We're Starting to get Rolling Here in West Yellowstone!
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Connor roped this beautiful brown on the Upper Madison this weekend with Guide Tyler
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Montana
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: Not surprisingly, the ice is starting to come off pretty early this year. Both arms of Hebgen are now clear of the hard stuff and about 25% of the main lake is open as well. Quake is on the same page as Hebgen, with a good chunk of it being open, mostly centralized towards the outflow side. Get out there and strip some leeches and chironomids before the lakes flip!
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: Not surprisingly, the ice is starting to come off pretty early this year. Both arms of Hebgen are now clear of the hard stuff and about 25% of the main lake is open as well. Quake is on the same page as Hebgen, with a good chunk of it being open, mostly centralized towards the outflow side. Get out there and strip some leeches and chironomids before the lakes flip!
Flies We're Fishing:
#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, #6 Black/Olive Wooly Bugger.
Madison Flows:
Hebgen Lake Inflow: 778 CFS
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 665 CFS
Kirby Flows: 770 CFS
Cameron Flows: 960 CFS
Water Temp @ Kirby: High 49F
Low 37F
Flows as of 12PM April 9th 2026
Water Temp @ Kirby: High 49F
Low 37F
Flows as of 12PM April 9th 2026
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A bottlenosed brute out of the Upper Madison this Weekend for Connnor's Dad Al
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Upper Madison: The 50 Mile Riffle is fishing great right now. its getting some mid-day green tea color from our early warm days but nothing too bad. Nymphing has been super solid as always, with plenty of fish coming to hand on stoneflies, small mayfly imitations, and smaller midges. The risers are there on days with no wind sipping midges ranging in sizes from 22 all the way to 16. Streamers have been getting them both stripped and swung as well.
Upper Madison: The 50 Mile Riffle is fishing great right now. its getting some mid-day green tea color from our early warm days but nothing too bad. Nymphing has been super solid as always, with plenty of fish coming to hand on stoneflies, small mayfly imitations, and smaller midges. The risers are there on days with no wind sipping midges ranging in sizes from 22 all the way to 16. Streamers have been getting them both stripped and swung as well.
Flies We're Fishing: #16 & #18 TBH Red Neck, #18 Olive SH Hare's Ear, #12 & #14 Black Rubberleg Stone, #16 Firestarter, #16 Sunburst Perdigon, #20 JJ Midge, #16 Bucky's Midge Cluster, #20 Griffith's Gnat, #20 Parachute Adams, #8 Black Hot Bead Leech, #10 Black Jig Leech, #6 Mini Sex Dungeon Black or Olive, #8 Kreelex, #6 Copper Zonker
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BENT!
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YNP
YNP
Madison, Firehole, Gibbon: The Madison from the Wyoming/Montana border to its entrance into Hebgen Lake is open to fishing year round, and beginning this year, the Firehole and Gibbon will be open upon the park's opening to wheeled vehicles - Friday April 17th. Expect water to be a bit higher and more off color than in years past with the Memorial Day opener, but there should be plenty of early hatches in there!
Gallatin: The YNP section of the Gallatin will open as usual with the rest of the parks general fishing season on the Saturday of memorial day, May 23rd. The Montana stretch to big sky is fishing OK but is going to be pretty chalky and opaque downstream of the Taylor Fork. The river is still very cold but we are turning some fish almost exclusively on small nymphs.
NE Corner: Everything up in the NE Corner is going to be too high & muddy to bother fishing until June or July.
YNP Flows
Firehole: 286 CFS
Gibbon: 147 CFS
Madison: 479 CFS
Yellowstone Outlet: 591 CFS
Gallatin: 466 CFS
Lamar: 1390 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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