So we’ve not been the only ones to notice that the Madison is getting a little crowded these days – there are lots of fly fisher folk trooping up, down and across many of the ‘traditional’ fall runner holes (Baker’s, Barns, Junction Pool, etc.) and even some of the ‘lesser’ runs all the way up to the confluence. Yellowstoner appropriately calls it the ‘Meadow Mambo’.
I think I saw the guy dancing in the video casting with those same movements on Grayling the other day.
Are there runners in the river? Hell yes.
Are there a lot of them? Nope. But more are on the way.
A younger and more nimble fishing acquaintance recently called me ‘a tottering old geezer’ for swinging soft hackles on the Madison and Firehole; I gently reminded him that I always outfish him when I do. Soft hackles have been particularly useful on the Madison in the mornings, though we’re having more fun throwing terrestrials and baetis when they’re around.
Cloudy days will be much more mayfly-ish from here on out, though our current heat wave (90 or better in Bozeman the past two days and another due today….) is makes it feel more like mid-August than mid-September.
Tags: River - YNP - Madison
