The following report is by Madison River Outfitters out of West Yellowstone:
Montana
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: The lakes are fishing very well right now. We’re seeing plenty of gulpers on calm days and Callibaetis are hatching sufficiently enough to fish them on the said calm mornings, but if there’s any chop, switch to subsurface techniques. Plenty of midges out there too so don’t be afraid to go small. Most of the fish are going to be relatively shallow, anywhere from 5-10′ deep. Leeches and chironomid imitations have been 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: 501 CFS
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 805 CFS
Kirby Flows: 842 CFS
Cameron Flows: 971 CFS
Water Temp @ Kirby: High 68 F
Low 56 F
Flows as of 12PM August 13th 2025
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A stout hopper slurper from MRO guide BJ Stone’s boat this week
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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. We’ve seen good PMD hatches in the wade section in the last couple hours of daylight as well. Nymphing has been the most productive but the fish are pretty dialed in on smaller natural patterns (18’s and smaller). Streamers can still move fish, particularly on the stormy and overcast days.
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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MRO guide Jake Schilling and long time client Henry showing off another fine rainbow
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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 Sallies, 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: 1220 CFS
Gallatin: 294 CFS
Lamar: 181 CFS
Soda Butte: gage is gone!
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Get out there!
