From below Ennis Lake to the headwaters of the Missouri River is the stretch known as the lower Madison River. It cruises through the Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness Area and can get gnarly before calming down and widening out on its final stretch into Three Forks. There, it meets the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers to form the Missouri River.
Fishing has been good over on the Lower Madison! Its the time of the year where the flows are fluctuating a lot so the water color can be slightly off but it doesnt seem to affect the fishing, Nymphing, Dries, and streamers are all in play! Dry flies have been great with and there is lots of bugs on the menu so do not leave that dry fly box at home. Caddis are really starting to pop, march browns, BWO's, and midges are all around so parachute patterns and a classic elk hair caddis are getting the job done! Nymphing with crawfish, worms, caddis pupa, and sow bugs has been the go to but don't be afraid of baetis nymphs, perdigons, and blow torches.
Parachute Adams (16-20), Purple Haze (16-20), Sparkle Dun (16-20), Film Critic (16-18), X-Caddis (14-18), Elk Hair Caddis (14-20), Griffiths Gnat (16-20), Buzz Ball (16-18)
Mills Cowbell Cray Tan/ Olive/ Rust (6), Turkey Back Cray Dark, Light (8), Beadhead Rubber Leg Krystal Bugger Brown/Olive/Black (6-10), Hale Bopp Leech Black/ Brown/ Olive (10), Strolis Micro Head Banger (8)
Pheasant Tail (12-20), BH Hare’s Ear (14-20), Black Blowtorch (12-16), Hare's Ear Blowtorch (14-16), Quilldigon Natural, Yellow, Pink (16-18), Perdigons, Olive/ Brown/ Black/ Pink/ Purple (14-18), Iron Sally (12-18), Worms Patterns, Shagedelic Mop
