Montana Fishing Reports ยท Southwest Region
Below Ennis Lake, the Lower Madison drops through the Bear Trap Canyon and then flattens out toward Three Forks, a warm summer float but a solid fall and winter fishery.
Looking for the latest Lower Madison River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Lower Madison River (Bear Trap to Three Forks).
Current flows
Wind forecast
Lower Madison River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge below Ennis Lake reads around 1,260 cfs, clear and cold.
Nymph the riffles and runs with small mayfly nymphs and midges, and try a crayfish or streamer on darker days.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Lower Madison, bring: Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Zebra Midge #18-20, JuJu Baetis #18-20, Woolly Bugger #6-8, Crayfish #6-8, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Lower Madison River details
| Access | Fishing access sites at Warm Springs, Black's Ford and Grey Cliffs, plus the Bear Trap Canyon trail. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 4,600 ft |
| Nearest town | Norris, Montana |
| Best season | Fall through spring |
| Fish | Rainbow and brown trout |
| Regulations | Montana's stream regulations vary by district and river. Check Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations for the current rules. A Montana fishing license is required for anglers 12 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Camping | Red Mountain campground and BLM sites in the Bear Trap area |
| Kids | Partly. The lower river is easy. |
| Good to know | Rattlesnakes in summer in the Bear Trap. Watch your step. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Midges and quiet days.
Spring
BWOs and caddis.
Summer
Warm water. Fish early or not at all.
Fall
BWOs and streamers.
How to get there
From Bozeman, take I-90 west to Belgrade, then State Highway 84 to Black's Ford and Warm Springs.