Southwestern Montana
SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA
ReportNOV 4 — 11, 2026
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Flow
641CFS
Madison River bl Hebgen Lake nr Grayling MT
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Water Temp
48.4°F
Updated 2026-11-04
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Weather
26–49°F
Partly Sunny
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Reported By
Bruce Staples
On the water
The Madison below Hebgen Lake is running 641 cfs at 48.4°F with partly sunny skies and a high near 49°F today, dropping to the upper 20s overnight. A slight chance of snow arrives Thursday, so plan road conditions accordingly.
From the ShopBruce Staples · November 4, 2026
Everywhere mature brown trout are migrating to spawning areas. Streamers, woolly buggers, and large soft hackles are most effective for encountering these trout.
Midge activity is the major topwater choice, with BWOs active during midday. Caddis life cycle patterns attract trout during late afternoons.
Weather has reduced bankside terrestrial insect populations and may impact driving conditions.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Sculpzilla - Olive #4
#4
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
#14
Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail Jig - Barbless #12
#12
Black Zebra Midge (TBH) #20
#20
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22–24
#22–24
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midges | #20–24 | All day; primary topwater option | Morning through afternoon |
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) | #22 | Moderate dry/emerger activity | Midday |
| Caddis (life cycle patterns) | #18–20 | Subsurface/emerger | Late afternoon |
| Brown Trout Spawn (streamers & soft hackles) | #4–14 | Aggressive — migration in full swing | All day |
Best Time Window
- 11:00 AM–2:00 PM: Prime BWO dry-fly window — watch for rising fish in flat water and switch to a Parachute BWO #22
- 3:00 PM–DARK: Late-afternoon caddis activity — swing or dead-drift caddis life cycle patterns through runs and riffles
- ALL DAY: Streamer and soft hackle fishing for migrating brown trout — no wrong time to swing a big fly through spawning lies
Guide's Tip
From the benchWoolly buggers are specifically called out in the report as a top producer for spawning browns — if you have traditional woolly bugger patterns in olive, black, or brown in your box, bring them. The Tungsten Jig Bugger is the closest catalog match. With temperatures dropping into the 20s overnight and a chance of snow Thursday afternoon, check road conditions before heading out and dress in layers — afternoon temps will fall quickly from an already-cool high of 49°F.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
