The following report is by Madison River Outfitters:
Montana
Hebgen & Quake Lakes: With the weather cooling down, the lakes are fishing great! there are still some sparse gulpers around if you feel like tearing your hair out chasing them. Browns should begin staging in the shallows by now. stripping streamers is the ticket with these aggressive fish. 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, #20 CW Trico Spinner, #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: CFS
Hebgen Lake Outflow: CFS
Kirby Flows: CFS
Cameron Flows: CFS
Water Temp @ Kirby: High F
Low F
Flows as of 12PM September 29th 2025
Upper Madison:
With the recent nice weather and cold mornings its been a little tricky on the 50 mile riffle. that should turn around with the arrival of more nasty stuff rolling in this week. The nymph game has been a little easier than weeks past, with fish starting to eat our old reliable patterns once again. There unfortunately hasn’t been much happening on top besides the occasional ant eater. Streamers should really start finding their niche down there as this weather system moves in starting this evening. Get out there and bring a rain jacket!
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 Mini Dungeon, #4 Sparkle Yummy – Black, #6 Olive/White Barely Legal, #8 Hot Bead Leech – Olive, Black, Brown
YNP
The rivers on the Western side of YNP (the Madison, Firehole, Gibbon, and all tributaries) have all been re-opened to all-day fishing. Keep an eye on those water temps in the afternoons, although the weather seems like its smooth sailing for a while.
Madison, Firehole, Gibbon: With cooler weather inbound, our fall run is definitely starting to spin up. Time to break out the soft hackles, streamers, and long rods! Stop in and talk to our friendly staff to get you set up for everyone’s favorite fall fishing. The fishing is just going to keep getting better as long as its getting wetter!
Gallatin: The Gallatin is fishing pretty well throughout the whole river. We aren’t seeing quite the volume of bugs as we have earlier in the season, but there should still be occasional baetis and BWO hatches. Beetles, ants, hoppers, spruce moths, etc. should all play on the Gallatin. With it being one of the coldest rivers around throughout the year, don’t feel too pressured to get an early start out there.
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 BWO’s and smaller baetis. Swinging soft hackles and leeches is always a fun way to fish the stone 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: CFS & High of F
Gibbon: CFS
Madison: CFS & High of F
Yellowstone Outlet: CFS
Gallatin: CFS
Lamar: CFS
Soda Butte: gage is gone!
Get out there!
(Feature photo: MRO Owner Brad Richey with a well fed Rainbow from the Missouri River)
