OCTOBER 2024

UPDATED 10/18/2024

It’s beginning to look and feel like fall in the Madison Valley. The first cold wave of weather pushed through last night bringing a mixture of snow, sleet and rain. The river is currently running 1040 CFS at Cameron, 820 CFS at Kirby, and 724 CFS out of Hebgen. Hebgen Lake is currently 84.8% full with an inflow of 309.8 CFS. Water temperatures saw a significant drop last night. Water temperatures have been around 48 F in the morning and 54 F in the late afternoon, with last night’s cold spell dropping water temperatures down to 42 F this morning. There’s still plenty of water in the system with the river becoming bonier beneath 8 Mile. 

Nymphing and streamer fishing continue to be the most consistent applications on the Upper. Pat’s Rubber Legs, caddis nymphs, worms and eggs have all been producing fish under an indicator. The streamer game has brought some excellent fish to the net this last week. Smaller sculpin imitations fished with a dead drift have worked best for me early in the morning. I’ve had limited success on cloudy days on the upper reaches of the river throwing fall baetis imitations. There’s still great dry fly fishing to be had in the fall, however those fish will sure make you earn it!

As always our shop in downtown Ennis is stocked to the brim with flies so don't be afraid to swing by and check them out for yourself. Also feel free to swing by the shop for a more in-depth and up to date fishing report or general fishing advice. Just a reminder as well it is now barbless hooks only from Varney bridge to the Lake so pinch those barbs. Enjoy your time on the water this weekend and be safe out there!

Hot Flies:

Streamers: Krystal Bugger, Sculpzilla, Lil Kim, Sheila, Mini Dungeon, Peanut Envy, Trevor Sculpin, Mike's Sculpin, Karnopp's Space Invader.

Dry Flies: Mini Hot Mayfly Olive, Johnson's Mimic May BWO, Parachute Adams, Edible Emerger Olive, Missing Link Caddis.

Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs Olive, Jig Pink Egg, Jiggy Egg Oregon Cheese, TBH Jiggy Duracell Brown, Jig Formerly Known as Prince, Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch, #4 Rubber Leg Black, #16 Gold Lightning Bug, Chartreuse French Dip, CDC Hustler.

- MRFC Guide Danny Eiden