Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for Madison River (Montana)
The Madison is a two-river problem. Above Ennis Lake you are fishing a broad riffle-and-run meadow for rainbows and browns that see a lot of rubber legs. Below the lake the water warms, the wade game opens up, and caddis and PMDs do more of the work than the salmonfly posters suggest. This list is built from the hatch chart we publish for the river, not from anyone else's catch log.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Madison River hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | Blue-winged Olive (Baetis) | #16-20 | Parachute BWO, RS2, Sparkle Dun |
| Midges | #18-22 | Zebra Midge, Griffith's Gnat, Mercury Midge | |
| April | Blue-winged Olive (Baetis) | #16-20 | Parachute BWO, Pheasant Tail, Sparkle Dun |
| Midges | #18-22 | Zebra Midge, Griffith's Gnat | |
| March Brown | #10-14 | March Brown Nymph, March Brown Emerger | |
| May | Mother's Day Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, Goddard Caddis |
| Salmonfly | #4-8 | Chubby Chernobyl, Pat's Rubber Legs, Norm Wood Special | |
| Blue-winged Olive | #16-20 | Parachute BWO, RS2 | |
| June | Salmonfly | #4-8 | Chubby Chernobyl, Pat's Rubber Legs, Norm Wood Special |
| Golden Stonefly | #6-10 | Yellow Stimulator, Golden Stone Nymph, Yellow Sally | |
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) | #14-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun, PMD Cripple, Pheasant Tail | |
| Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis, Peacock Caddis, CDC Caddis | |
| July | Pale Morning Dun (PMD) | #14-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun, PMD Cripple, Pheasant Tail |
| Yellow Sally Stonefly | #14-16 | Yellow Sally, Yellow Stimulator | |
| Trico | #18-22 | Trico Spinner, Trico Dun, Parachute Trico | |
| Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis | |
| Hoppers | #8-12 | Chubby Chernobyl, Morrish Hopper, Dave's Hopper | |
| August | Hoppers | #6-12 | Chubby Chernobyl, Morrish Hopper, Dave's Hopper, Parachute Hopper |
| Trico | #18-22 | Trico Spinner, CDC Trico | |
| Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis, Goddard Caddis | |
| Ants and Beetles | #14-18 | Fur Ant, Flying Ant, Foam Beetle, Crowe Beetle | |
| September | Blue-winged Olive (Baetis) | #16-20 | Parachute BWO, RS2, Sparkle Dun |
| Hoppers (fading) | #10-14 | Chubby Chernobyl, Morrish Hopper | |
| October Caddis | #6-10 | Orange Stimulator, October Caddis, Goddard Caddis | |
| Mahogany Dun | #14-16 | Mahogany Dun, Mahogany Sparkle Dun, Pheasant Tail | |
| October | Blue-winged Olive (Baetis) | #16-20 | Parachute BWO, RS2, Sparkle Dun |
| October Caddis | #6-10 | Orange Stimulator, October Caddis Pupa | |
| Midges | #18-22 | Zebra Midge, Griffith's Gnat, Mercury Midge | |
| November | Blue-winged Olive (Baetis) | #18-22 | Parachute BWO, RS2, WD-40 |
| Midges | #20-24 | Zebra Midge, Mercury Midge, Griffith's Gnat |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the Madison River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
Setup
4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the Madison River?
- Start with March Brown Wet and BWO Sparkle Dun, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Madison River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the Madison River?
- The editorial window we list is June, July, August, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the Madison River?
- Montana has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the Madison River?
- Open the Madison River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the Madison River?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.
Related
Madison River
Access, hatch chart, USGS gauge.
Montana
Trip planning for this region.
March Brown Wet
Wet
BWO Sparkle Dun
Dry
Beadhead Caddis Pupa
Nymph
Bud Lilly's Trout Shop Guide Service
Montana Troutfitters
Arrick's Fly Shop
37 Canyon St, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Beartooth Flyfishing
2925 US-287, Cameron, MT 59720
Beaverhead River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Big Hole River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Bighorn River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Bitterroot River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.