Madison River Fishing Report: May 10, 2026

Summary

The Upper Madison continues to fish well on steady 665 cfs flows out of Hebgen, with clear early-season water from Valley Garden through Raynolds Pass. Nymphing dominates, a midge drift up high and lead patterns trailing BWO and caddis nymphs in the float. Mother's Day caddis is hatching now on the lower stretches between Varney and Ennis Lake, with unusually good visibility setting up a strong window this week.

At a glance: Hebgen Dam 665 cfs (steady; no significant rise expected until mid to late June absent extraordinary precipitation) | Kirby 788 cfs | Varney 960 cfs | Water clear, early-season volume from Valley Garden through Raynolds Pass | Ennis Lake ice-free | Mother's Day caddis hatching now in lower stretches (Varney to Ennis Lake)

The Upper Madison continues to fish well, holding the late-April and early-May form it has carried since February. Hebgen flows are steady at 665 cfs and aren't expected to climb meaningfully until mid to late June; through spring, most fluctuation will come from creek input rather than the dam, so fishable water should hold top to bottom for the foreseeable future. The river is clear with good early-season volume, Ennis Lake is fully ice-free, and consistent action is reported from Valley Garden through Raynolds Pass. Fish are sitting in slower seams, deeper runs, and shelfy pockets where the bottom drops abruptly. Mother's Day caddis is now hatching on the lower stretches between Varney and Ennis Lake, visibility is unusually good for this point in the calendar, which sets up a strong window if you can get on the lower river this week.

Spawning note: Active spawning still visible throughout the system. Trout are spawning on cleared gravel beds; watch your step and be careful where you drop anchor. If you encounter a redd, walk in front of it (upstream) rather than behind, most eggs settle 3 to 10 ft downstream of the actual spawning bed.

Best techniques

• Nymphing dominates. A double nymph rig under an indicator is the most productive setup, keep it simple and effective.
• Upper wade stretch: midge drift is the play, Zebra Midges, Jujubees, and small dips.
• Float stretch: larger lead patterns (stonefly nymphs and worms) trailing BWO and caddis nymphs.
• Timing: bite typically comes on 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., no rush at first light.
• Cloudy afternoons: fish look up for midges; BWOs are now appearing around Raynolds and Three Dollar.
• Streamers: hit-or-miss in the float, most guides are nymphing small Jig Zonkers and Dolly Llamas right in fish's faces in natural, olive, and black. Wade-streamer water (Ennis Bridge to the lake; Quake to Lyons) is currently the better bet for stripping flies.

Hatches and flies.

• Midges (Upper, foundation hatch all spring): Zebra Midge, Jujubees, Three Dollar Dip (Brown).
• BWOs (spreading from mid and lower river up to Raynolds and Three Dollar):
  • Nymphs / emergers: Tungsten Rednecks, Juju Baetis, Kelly's BWO Nymph, Dark BPs, Olive Hot Spots, Barr's Emergers, Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch.
  • Dries: Antonio's Adult BWO, Johnson's Mimic May BWO, Parachute Adams, Mini Hot Mayfly (Black / Garcia Yellow).
• Caddis (early appearance Varney to Ennis Lake, this is the Mother's Day window): standard caddis nymphs trailing larger leads in the float.
• Nymph staples (year-round workhorses): Pat's Rubber Legs (Black), BH Pheasant Tail, Spanish Bullet (French).
• Streamers:
  • MRFC's hot list: Jiggy Pine Leech (Black), Lil' Kim (Silver), Woolly Bugger (Black), Sparring Partner (Brown Trout); Jig Zonker (Black) and white Dolly Llama for nymph-rigged fish-in-the-face.
  • Slide Inn's wade-stretch picks: Barely Legals, Mini Dungeons for sculpin / baitfish profiles; Peanut Envys and Double Screamers for thin articulated patterns.

Outlook. Hebgen flows should hold steady at 665 cfs through mid to late June, with creek inputs producing the only meaningful fluctuations. As water temps push into the high 40s and low 50s, expect the streamer bite to improve materially in the float stretches. Mother's Day caddis is hatching now on the lower reaches, visibility is normally an issue at this time of year, so this year's clear-water timing could produce an exceptional hatch through the next couple of weeks. Spawning fish will remain visible; continued caution while wading and anchoring is required.

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