June 2025

UPDATED 6/5/2025

As spring takes its final transition into summer on The Madison River, runoff is nearing its end. With warmer weather arriving quickly, the remaining snowpack is melting at an accelerated rate, signaling that runoff is close to being over. Over the last few days, the river has experienced a significant drop in water levels. The flows at Cameron are currently at 1450 CFS and 800 CFS at Kirby Ranch. The water has cleared up from the typical runoff color and has transformed into a green color. For anglers looking to attack these new conditions, higher up on the river (Pine butte and above)will have more consistent clear water, while leading back to Ennis you'll start to find that the water is more green with less visibility.

With the river's new changes, nymphing with girdle bugs and a prince nymph or pheasant tail has proven to be my best setup. Streamer fishing has been shining, with yellow, white and black streamers being my go to’s. With those colors popping so well, I’ve had aggressive trout attacking those colors! While topwater eats are tempting, subsurface presentations are still more productive for now. However, with weather and river conditions changing rapidly and salmonflies on the horizon, don't hesitate to give our shop a call for new updates to maximize your time on the water!

Hot Flies:

Streamers: Sparkle Minnow Sculpin, Sculpzilla, Lil Kim, Hot Head Mini Leech Olive, Mini Dungeon White, Woolly Bugger Black.

Dry Flies: Missing Link Caddis, Purple Haze, Chubby Chernobyl.

Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs Black, Olive, Brown, Zebra Midge Red, Juju Baetis Red, Wonder Nymph BWO, Lightning Bug Gold, Lil Bit Craven Black, Partridge Soft Hackle Pheasant.

- MRFC Guide Julio Mateo