Greater Yellowstone, Montana
Madison River Fishing Report: May 19, 2026
Madison River is in a useful fishing window today.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Late morning through afternoon
- Best methods
- nymphs, streamers, dry flies
Quick Summary
Madison River is in a useful fishing window today. USGS showed 938 cfs and 2.17 feet at 5:15 AM, with the flow trend falling. Water temperature was 42 F. Start with nymphs, then adjust to streamers or dry flies if fish begin feeding higher in the column.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 938 cfs at 5:15 AM |
| Gauge Height | 2.17 feet |
| Water Temp | 42 F |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Falling |
| Best Window | Late morning through afternoon |
| Best Method | nymphs; streamers; dry flies |
| Wadeability | Good |
Weather
For Ennis, MT, the National Weather Service forecast says: Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. South southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Plan around wind, changing light, and any showers or storms rather than assuming a full-day dry fly window.
River Notes
The best starting point is water that matches the current gauge: inside seams, protected banks, riffle drop-offs, and slower buckets rather than the heaviest current. A falling trend is worth watching through the day; if the hydrograph turns sharply upward, clarity and wade safety can change before hatch timing does. Missing field values are left as Not reported rather than filled from guesswork.
Hatch Activity
Current hatch guidance is based on seasonal May patterns for this river system, current public report context where available, and today’s official gauge/weather check.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Better during clouds or damp weather |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Check riffles and buckets |
| March Brown | 10-12 | Sporadic larger mayflies |
| Stonefly | 8-12 | Useful nymph or dry-dropper attractor |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | BWO Sparkle Dun | 18-22 | Use over steady risers |
| Dry | Chubby Chernobyl | 8-12 | Dry-dropper prospecting |
| Nymph | Pat’s Rubber Legs | 8-12 | Fish along buckets and banks |
| Nymph | Pheasant Tail | 14-18 | Trail fly |
| Streamer | Olive Woolly Bugger | 6-10 | Low light and bank cover |
Tactics
Start with nymphs in defined lanes and adjust weight, depth, or leader length before changing flies. If fish begin rising, simplify to a single dry or dry with an emerger/dropper and lengthen the leader. In bright or windy periods, return to subsurface presentations along protected banks and broken water. Re-check the gauge before wading new crossings, especially if the trend changes from stable or falling to rising.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison River near Cameron MT | 938 cfs | 42 F | USGS 06040000 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 06040000 and the National Weather Service forecast for the Ennis, MT area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.