lower madison fishing report

1730 CFS @ Ennis - The Lower Madison has continued to stay low and fish well. There have been good hatches of PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and Caddis. Nymphing has been the best bet with crayfish, stonefly patterns and PMD, Yellow Sally, or caddis nymphs. Dry fly fishing has been spotty but certainly productive if you stick with it.

Recommended Flies:

Clouser Cray #10
Nosepicker PMD #16
TB Yellow Sally #12
Para PMD #16
Chubby Sally #12

2870 CFS @ Ennis - Zirdle bugs and crayfish have been the name of the game on the Lower Madison recently. Drifting them below an indicator and giving intermittent short strips have resulted in a good number of strikes. Flows have crept up a bit to nearly 3,000 CFS, but the water temperatures reached the higher 60s last week, so be careful not to play the fish too long once you have them hooked.

Recommended Flies:  

Zirdle Camo #10

G6 Caddis #6

BH Yellow Sally #14

Neversink Sally #14

Missing Link Caddis #16

2070 CFS @ Ennis - Spring is a great time to be on the Lower Madison. Crayfish are always on the menu and nymphing them through deeper runs can produce some nice fish. Flows have been fluctuating a little bit, but the fishing has been steady with nymphs and turns on in the evenings with dry flies. Bring along some caddis and yellow sallies, as they've been out and about as the day warms up.

Recommended Flies:

Zirdle Camo #10

G6 Caddis #6

BH Yellow Sally #14

Neversink Sally #14

Missing Link Caddis #16

1880 @ Ennis - The flows on the Lower Madison have been mostly staying steady creating some great fishing opportunities. Caddis and yellow sallies seem to be around in good numbers. Nymphing has been the most productive with decent dry fly fishing in the evenings with caddis. Crayfish patterns have also been working well.

Recommended Flies:

Zirdle Camo #10
G6 Caddis #6
BH Yellow Sally #14
Neversink Sally #14
Missing Link Caddis #16

1330 CFS @ Ennis - With the variable weather in the area and fluctuating flows on the Lower, the fish have been experiencing a lot of different conditions over the past week or so. That being said, the fishing is still good, particularly subsurface. We've been seeing yellow sallies out in good numbers, so running a stonefly nymph along with a caddis pupa has been productive. On the overcast days, BWOs have been hatching, so be sure to take a few baetis patterns with you, both dries and nymphs. 

Recommended Flies:

Silvey's BH Pupa #16

G6 Caddis #16

Missing Link Caddis #16

Neversink Sally #14

Kreelex #6

1810 CFS @ Ennis - Fishing on the Lower the past week has been great, both on top and sub-surface. The Mother's Day caddis explosion is waning, but fish have still been keying on dry flies in the afternoons and evenings. We've been seeing plenty of caddis, yellow sallies, and March browns, so be sure to stock up on those. Be on the lookout for BWOs when the clouds roll in. Dropping a caddis pupa from a dry fly has been pretty killer, and the nymphing has been solid throughout the day.

Recommended Flies:

G6 Caddis #16

Goddard Caddis #16

Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #16

X Caddis, Olive #14-16

CDC Baetis Emerger, BWO #18