6/11/2026: Madison River Fishing Report
Summary
Fishing on the Upper Madison has been decent for several weeks, with wind the main limiter. Most anglers have stayed up high or sought tree shelter below Varney when it blows. The bigger story is water: recent moisture has Hebgen Reservoir at 99.6% full, and NorthWestern Energy is now ramping releases until outflow matches inflow, likely through Friday. Rising flows should push the salmonfly emergence back somewhat (Slide Inn's best guess is around June 16, still about a week earlier than normal) and should noticeably improve streamer fishing over the next week. A few salmonflies have already been spotted on the lower river.
At a glance: Hebgen Dam 699 CFS · Kirby 842 CFS · Varney 1,100 CFS (rising) | Hebgen Reservoir 99.6% full and rising | Rising as the dam ramps, salmonfly window opening
Fishing on the Upper Madison has been decent for several weeks, with wind the main limiter. Most anglers have stayed up high or sought tree shelter below Varney when it blows. The bigger story is water: recent moisture has Hebgen Reservoir at 99.6% full, and NorthWestern Energy is now ramping releases until outflow matches inflow, likely through Friday. Rising flows should push the salmonfly emergence back somewhat (Slide Inn's best guess is around June 16, still about a week earlier than normal) and should noticeably improve streamer fishing over the next week. A few salmonflies have already been spotted on the lower river.
Note. Flows are actively rising. NorthWestern Energy began increasing releases out of Hebgen roughly 5% per hour (noon to 5 pm June 10) and increases are expected to continue through Friday until outflow matches inflow. Wade with caution and recheck gauges before committing to a crossing. Wind has also been severe: 30 to 40 mph gusts make the middle river rough going at low flows.
Best techniques
- Nymphing is the most productive method by a long shot. Upper stretches: small Pat's Rubber Legs and TJ Hookers in #10 to #12, olive caddis larva patterns, Zebra Midges, Three Dollar Dips, and smaller perdigons in #16 to #18. BWO nymphs remain in play on colder days, but it is mostly a caddis and small stonefly game. Same story through most of the float section.
- Dry fly fishing is improving with small attractors and adult caddis. Dropping tungsten nymphs off Royal Micro Chubbies has produced some fun days in the float water.
- Streamers are not great yet but should turn on shortly as dam releases climb. Better patterns lately: Mini Envys, Mini Whiteys, Double Screamers, Mini Loop Sculpin, Bangtails, and micro envys in black, olive, yellow, olive/black, and natural. Retrieve style matters as much as color: some days a slow twitch or jig, others a fast rip. Keep experimenting until you crack the code.
Hatches
Caddis: adults active on sunny days; olive larva producing subsurface. BWO: nymphs still in play on colder, cloudy days. Salmonfly: a few spotted on the lower river; full emergence guessed around June 16, about a week earlier than normal. Rising flows may push it back. Slide Inn suggests calling the North Slide shop in Ennis for the latest big-bug intel.
The Fly Box
Nymphs: TJ Hookers, Zebra Midges, Three Dollar Dips, BWO nymphs, Pat's Rubber Legs
Dries: Royal Micro Chubbies
Streamers: Mini Envys, Mini Whiteys, Double Screamers, Mini Loop Sculpin, Bangtails
Outlook. Flows out of Hebgen will keep climbing through Friday until they match inflow. Expect streamer fishing to improve markedly over the next week and the salmonfly clock to start ticking around mid-month. Wind remains the wild card; plan for shelter below Varney or up high when it blows.
Sources and Thanks
| Shop | Report date | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Slide Inn (Galloup's) | June 10, 2026 | Madison River |
| Madison River Fly Fishing Company (Ennis) | April 23, 2026 | Madison River |
