Madison River

The Madison River is the headwaters of the Missouri River flowing out of Yellowstone National Park right out side of West Yellowstone and then up to Ennis continuing to flow right by town, from there it heads to Three Forks and joins the Gallatin River and Jefferson River to form the Missouri River. The Madison River is divided into a couple of very distinct sections, which are called the Upper and Lower Madison River.

The Upper Madison River has the most consistent fishing in Southwest Montana, the swift rocky river holds plenty of feisty Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout, that feed on the rivers huge stonefly and sculpin population. This makes it a great streamer fishing river and provides strong fighting fish no matter what the size. Most of the Upper Madison River is best suited for a float trip, the upper section is very swift and has a bottom filled with bowling ball shaped rocks which make wading this section extremely difficult, a drift boat or raft is the preferred choice and makes for a very fun and enjoyable fishing experience that can be accomplished by any skill level. With over a weeks worth of different floats to choose from this section will keep you coming back year after year.

The Lower Madison River starts at the bottom of Ennis dam, swiftly moving through Bear Trap Canyon, and then mellows out to a wide open valley. With it’s nice calm flows this section is best fished in spring and fall, one of the best options for a winter float, it holds some of the biggest Brown Trout on the whole Madison River. The summer on the lower section can become crowded with inner-tubers and the water temps become too warm for fishing in the heat of the day. The lower section can be reached with in twenty minutes from Bozeman, making it a great choice if you are looking for a half-day or need to catch a plane in the afternoon.

Wading the Madison River

There are quite a few places to do hike-in wade trips or a float with the opportunity to get out and wade fish on the upper and lower sections of the Madison River, because of the rivers rocky bottom using a drift boat or raft for transportation is a great option that can open up a lot more water. There is a lot of water to choose from that can take you away from the crowds if you’re willing to step out and do a little wade fishing, but with the rocks and current its best for the nimble with a drive for adventure.