Madison River Fishing Report: April 29, 2026

Summary

The Madison continues a strong spring season, with Hebgen pinned at 665 cfs and clear, fishable water top to bottom. Nymphing remains the most productive approach, leading with a small black Pat's Rubber Legs and trailing a midge, BWO, or worm pattern. BWOs have finally arrived up high and early caddis on the lower river could set up one of the better Mother's Day hatches in years.

At a glance: Hebgen 665 cfs (Slide Inn, 4/20) | Kirby 788 cfs | Varney 960 cfs | Water clear, early-season; fishable top to bottom | Temps still cool, high 40s and low 50s is the streamer trigger | Pre-runoff, fishing like late April and early May | Sections in play: Upper (wade), Between-the-Lakes and Quake (wade), Lower and Float (Varney to Ennis Lake)

The Madison continues a strong spring season. Hebgen flows are pinned at 665 cfs and expected to hold there through mid to late June barring biblical precipitation, with most fluctuation now coming from creek inputs rather than dam releases. Both shops report consistent action from Valley Garden through Raynolds Pass, best water is the slower seams, deeper runs, and shelfy pockets where the bottom drops out. BWOs have finally arrived around Raynolds and Three Dollar Bridge over the last week or two, surprising they took this long given how active they've been mid and lower river. The lower stretches between Varney and Ennis Lake are starting to show real caddis activity earlier than usual, and with clear water this could shape up to be one of the better Mother's Day caddis hatches in years. Bite usually fires up around 9:30 to 10:00 AM. Ennis Lake is completely ice-free.

Spawning note: Active spawning redds throughout the river. Walk in front of cleared gravel, eggs sit 3 to 10 feet behind the redd, not under it. Same rule applies to where you drop anchor in the float water.

Best techniques

• Nymphing remains king. Double nymph rig under an indicator is the most productive setup. Lead with a small Pat's Rubber Legs (black) and trail with a midge, BWO nymph/emerger, or worm pattern.
• Upper wade water: midge drift is the story. Zebra Midges, Jujubees, small dips, and assorted midge larva/pupa.
• Float water: larger stonefly nymphs and worms trailing BWO and caddis nymphs.
• Dries: opportunistic. On cloudy afternoons, midge dries are working; once you see BWOs riding the film, switch over. Mother's Day caddis could pop on the lower river any day.
• Streamers: still hit-or-miss in the float stretch, nymphing small streamers like Zonkers and Dolly Llamas (natural / olive / black) right in their face is more effective than stripping. For stripping, attack on foot, Ennis Bridge to the Lake or Quake to Lyons. Expect this to flip once water hits the high 40s.

Hatches and flies.

Midges (primary food source on the Upper wade water right now)

• Zebra Midge, Jujubee Midge, Three Dollar Dip, plus assorted midge larva and pupa.

BWOs (just arriving on the Upper, established mid to lower)

• Nymphs / emergers: Tungsten Redneck, Juju Baetis, Kelly's BWO Nymph, Dark BPs, Olive Hot Spots, Barr's Emergers
• Dries: Antonio's Adult BWO, Johnson's Mimic May BWO, Parachute Adams, Mini Hot Mayfly (Black and Garcia Yellow)

Caddis (early on the Lower, Mother's Day window opening)

• Caddis nymphs trailing under stoneflies in the float water; a few adults coming off Varney to Ennis Lake.

Stoneflies and worms (workhorse subsurface)

• Pat's Rubber Legs (black), Spanish Bullet (French), Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch, BH Pheasant Tail.

Streamers

• Float-water nymphed small: Jig Zonker (black), Dolly Llama (white)
• Stripped on the wade stretches: Jiggy Pine Leech (black), Lil' Kim (silver), Woolly Bugger (black), Sparring Partner (brown trout), Barely Legals, Mini Dungeons, Peanut Envys, Double Screamers

Outlook. Stable Hebgen flows expected through June, runoff will come from creeks rather than the dam. Streamer fishing should turn on as water temps climb into the high 40s. Caddis activity on the lower river is a leading indicator of a strong Mother's Day weekend coming up; worth a trip to the Varney to Ennis stretch in early to mid May.

Sources and Thanks

Shop	Report date	Coverage
Madison River Fly Fishing Company (Ennis)	April 8, 2026	Madison River
Slide Inn (Galloup's)	April 20, 2026	Madison River