Madison River

The Madison is one of the most well known rivers in the world and for good reason.  It’s the epitome of western – big, rough around the edges, beautiful and wild.  The pace of the river is continuous for about 50-60 miles through the Madison Valley.  Think riffle, riffle, rock, seam, riffle, rock, seam, riffle.  With all that structure there are plenty of places for fish and aquatic insects to live and with the flow there is no shortage of oxygen.  While the Madison is no secret it is definitely worth a guided day in a drift boat with an experienced guide.  This not a place that a Montana fisherman should leave unchecked on the list.  The preferred times to fish the Madison are late June through mid August.  The salmon fly hatch is generally anywhere from the last week of June through the first week of July.  After that the crowds give a little and the really great caddis fishing begins!  Here are a few photos of the famed Madison…