Montana ·
Madison River Fly Fishing Report - September 20, 2026

MADISON RIVER
ReportSEP 20 — 27, 2026
🌊
Flow
—CFS
🌡️
Water Temp
—
☀️
Weather
37–68°F
Chance Light Rain
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Live gauge data is unavailable, but recent web intel confirms stable flows around 290 CFS near West Yellowstone with clear water and classic early-fall conditions — expect fog to burn off by 10 AM giving way to partly sunny skies and a comfortable high near 61°F.
What's Working — Hot Flies

Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22

Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22

Top Secret Baetis #16
#16

Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16

Bionic Hopper - Tan #12
#12

Bionic Hopper - Purple #12
#12

Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12

Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12
#12

Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20

Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20

Egan's Frenchie #12
#12

Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Moderate | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Terrestrials (Ants & Hoppers) | 12-16 | Moderate | 12 PM - 4 PM |
| Caddis | 16-20 | Light | 4 PM - 6 PM |
| Stonefly (Nymph) | 6-12 | Light | 7 AM - 10 AM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 10 AM: Midge and early Baetis nymphing in slow pools and flats before the fog lifts — keep it subtle and slow.
- 11 AM - 3 PM: Prime terrestrial window; work hopper and ant patterns tight to grassy, undercut banks with the sun overhead.
- 4 PM - 6 PM: Evening caddis and streamer time — swing through tailouts and deep runs as browns begin to move and feed aggressively.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith fog lingering until 10 AM, start your morning in the slower, deeper pools with a midge or small Baetis nymph fished on a long, light leader — trout will be stacked and feeding confidently in the low light. Once the fog burns off and temperatures climb toward midday, shift your focus to the grassy banks with a hopper or ant pattern, casting within 12 inches of the bank and letting the fly sit dead before any movement. As the afternoon cools toward 4 PM, move to the riffled runs and swing a caddis soft-hackle or Sparkle Minnow through the tailouts — September browns are beginning to think about the spawn and will chase a swung fly aggressively.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
