Montana ·
Madison River Fly Fishing Report - November 8, 2026

MADISON RIVER
ReportNOV 8 — 15, 2026
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Flow
641CFS
Madison River bl Hebgen Lake nr Grayling MT
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Water Temp
47.5°F
Updated 2026-11-07
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Weather
28–47°F
Mostly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at a fishable 641 cfs with excellent clarity and water temps at 47.5°F — cold enough to concentrate fish in slower, deeper seams and trigger reliable midday BWO hatches. Expect a crisp morning start near 29°F warming to a comfortable 47°F by afternoon under mostly sunny skies.
What's Working — Hot Flies

Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
#22

Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
BWO WD-40 #22
#22
Lil Bit Craven - Dark Olive #22
#22

Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
#22

Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20

Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10

Egan's Frenchie #12
#12

Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
#12

Egan's Silver Bullet - Baetis #14
#14

Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Moderate | 10 AM - 3 PM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Light | 1 PM - 3 PM |
| Scuds / Sowbugs | 10-14 | Moderate | All Day |
| Stonefly Nymph | 12 | Light | 9 AM - 12 PM |
Best Time Window
- 8 AM - 11 AM: Deep nymphing in runs and pocket water with tungsten anchor flies before the hatch develops.
- 11 AM - 2 PM: Prime BWO hatch window — switch to dries and emergers in tail-outs and slow glides.
- 2 PM - 4 PM: Last light nymphing and midge activity before temperatures drop sharply toward sunset.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith water temps at 47.5°F, trout are active but deliberate — focus your morning effort on deep nymphing in the 3–5 foot runs using a tungsten anchor fly like the Sowbug, keeping your indicator set at 1.5x the water depth. As the sun hits the water between 11 AM and 2 PM, watch the slower tail-outs and flat glides for rising fish keying on Baetis; switch to a size 22 dry or emerger and lengthen your tippet to 5X or 6X for the best drag-free drift. The mostly sunny forecast today will warm the air quickly but don't expect the hatch to fire until the sun is fully on the water — patience in the morning will pay off with quality dry-fly action midday.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
