The Madison in the Park has fished pretty well all summer and continues to do so.  There has been some concern over water temperatures rising again with the recent warm spell, but with the cooler weather due again, there should not be a problem. 

There are large Browns in the Madison; come prepared to sight cast with Terrestrials; Bees, Hoppers, and Ants seem to be favorites.  This is not easy fishing – you’ll find it harder than you think to get close enough to the fish to cast without spooking it.  Trout on the Madison are smart – they tend to be shy and spooky, but their size well makes up for nay difficulties you may have fishing.  Big Browns are coming into the river from Hebgen Lake and they are hungry.  Soft Hackles seem to be a favorite for these trout.

A friend was up this week and there’s no question that streamers are also a great play right now.  From the western Park border and for a mile or so past the Barnes holes seems to hold the greatest concentration of fish.  My buddy fishes big flies with an 8-wt, and apparently had a great evening yesterday working that stretch.  Cooler weather today should really help. 

On cool, cloudy, and rainy days start looking for baetis emergences – the time has come.  Trout will rise to these little Mayflies all afternoon.  Be prepared and stock your fly box accordingly.  The Madison is some of Yellowstone’s premier fishing water, and it looks like she is going to have a lovely fall.

By the way, we’ll trying to stay on top of the Hebgen dam story – things look pretty sober right now. 

Flows today (0630) are 414 cfs, with today’s average 401 cfs on the gage near West Yellowstone. 

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Flies to Have in the Box

Dries:  baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, Fall baetis Sparkle Dun, Para-Adams;Caddis - EHC, X Caddis, Electric Caddis, EC Caddis, CDC Caddis, Spent Caddis - tan, olive, black; Trico; Midges – your favorites

Nymphs: PT; BHPT; BH Hares Ear, Copper John, olive; BH Prince; Lightning bugs, gold, silver, green/olive;  PMD Wonder nymph, Electric Yellow Micro Mayfly

Terrestrials: Hoppers, beetles, ants, bees

Streamers:  Woolly buggers, brown, yellow, olive, black; Sparkle buggers, same colors; Girdle bug; Zonkers, assorted; your favorites

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Tags: River: Madison River