Madison River hatch chart.

Spring in the Madison Valley. Browns, rainbows and whitefish take stonefly nymphs, Prince-style nymphs and small dead-drifted streamers. Dan’s first floats of 2025 ran Lyons Bridge to Ruby Creek and Ruby Creek to Varney Bridge.

Flies: Delektable Hurless Nymph Gray Flashback #8–10 · Mega Prince · Sparkle Kaboom Stone · Lil’ Spanker PT #14–16

Warmer temperatures kick-start Blue Wing Olive and caddis hatches. Stonefly nymphs are a key protein source for big fish, and streamer fishing picks up as water temperatures approach the mid 40s.

Flies: Delektable Gold BH Nymph #8–10 · BWO dries · small streamers

Snowmelt bumps the flows and color, and caddis, mayfly, midge and stonefly activity ramps up. Cooler runoff water means action-packed streamer fishing with aggressive eats in high water.

Flies: Brown and black stonefly nymphs paired with a small midge, mayfly or caddis

Salmonflies and golden stones pop on different sections, swarms of caddis cover the sagebrush, Pale Morning Duns push upriver and Yellow Sallies fill in the cracks. The buffet is open.

Flies: Big stonefly dries · PMDs · caddis · a nymph or emerger behind a streamer

Dry fly and terrestrial fishing above McAtee and Palisades, with afternoon thunderstorms creating feeding windows. In hot spells, hoot owl restrictions can close fishing from 2 PM to midnight on lower sections.

Flies: Small PMDs and spinners · caddis · hoppers · flying ants

Heat moves the big hatches aside and trout forage on hoppers, flying ants and beetles. Nocturnal stoneflies and spruce moths keep fish feeding through hot days and nights.

Flies: Hoppers · ants · beetles · tiny PMDs · nocturnal stones

One of the most fun times of the year. October caddis and Blue Wings replace hoppers and ants. Sculpin patterns and attractor nymphs fish well in the fast-to-slow transitions and drop-offs.

Flies: Delektable Lil’ Chubby · Halo · Chubbyness · sculpin patterns

Some of the best streamer fishing of the year. Nymphs bring numbers, but streamers move the larger browns as they focus on spawning. Colored-up browns and rosy-cheeked rainbows.

Flies: Delektable Guide Stone · Jig Hook Tungsten Micro Spanker #16–18 · Wire Worm · streamers

Browns begin to spawn and hatches dwindle to the smallest bugs, but streamer and nymph action stays hot in the right water. On warm winter days, a couple of hours in one or two holes can produce 20 to 30 fish, and you’ll have the river to yourself.

Flies: Meaty nymphs in deep, slow runs · streamers