Flows have come up a bit on the Upper Madison, which is good news for those of us with boats. There still are a few spots that you need to watch pretty carefully, but on the whole it is much better. Due to some of the cool nights, the Lower is finally starting to turn back on.
If you really want to fish the Lower, I would recommend either hiking up in to Bear Trap or getting out on the water early in the mornings. Big nymphs have been working early. The water is cooling back down, but is still not at optimal levels. The tube hatch is slowing down, but they are still out in the afternoons, especially on weekends.
The Upper is fishing very well. With caddis, mayflies, Spruce Moths, hoppers, and ants there is a dearth of choices for dries. I have been hearing some reports of ant flights around McAtee and Varney. Be sure to have some ant patterns with you, this is not something you want to miss. The Spruce Moths are fading away, but you can still find them in a few places. Caddis are out in good numbers in the evenings.
Tags: River - Madison
