Madison Double R Montana at The Fly Shop

The Madison Double R Lodge, located in the beautiful Madison Valley just south of Ennis, Montana the self-described Trout Capital of the United States. With 1,200 acres on 2 miles of Madison River frontage just south of iconic Varney Bridge, Madison Double R offers guided fly fishing on nearby trout waters, luxury accommodations, and a relaxing western outdoor experience.

Owners and hosts John and Krista Sampson came to Montana in the early 1990s, and both became fishing guides. Over the years they continued to learn what it takes to create the ultimate fly fishing lodge experience, helping develop a top-quality fly fishing guide program, superb cuisine, comfortable accommodations, and the right balance of sophistication with an easygoing western atmosphere, both of which John calls a “Montana-State-of-Mind”. The Sampsons are joined by Russ and Susie Milam, experienced lodge managers, in welcoming guests and ensuring your stay is not only enjoyable but memorable.

Today, the Sampsons and Milams, along with a hand-picked staff, are energized to bring over 25 years of experience in the lodging and fly fishing world to their operation, in an effort to exceed the expectations of every guest who stays at the Madison Double R.

“I love this piece of the Madison Valley,” states Sampson. “The long riffles and pools of the Madison are like no other. I felt the connection to this landscape with its lush willows, beautiful side channels, and layers of views across this majestic valley to the glaciated Cameron Bench, and knew this was the place where I could create a destination lodge for the ultimate Montana experience. Fortunately, the land surrounding the ranch will never be developed and will remain protected, as one area is conserved through an easement with the Montana Land Alliance, and the other is owned by the State of Montana.” – John Sampson

Headed out on your next adventure with us? The Fly ShopⓇ has you covered. As a thank you to our travel guests, enjoy 15% off all retail purchases for a year! — the perfect chance to gear up before your trip.

Whether it’s flies, leaders, apparel or a new rod and reel outfit, we’ve got everything you need to make your journey more comfortable, more successful, and more fun. (some exclusions apply)

Seasons

March -May:
Springtime is a great time to be fly fishing in Montana. The rivers are less crowded, the fish are hungry from a long winter fast, and the bugs are starting to hatch as the days get longer and the water temperatures start to warm. Midges start hatching on warm sunny afternoons and once the river hits that magic lower 40-degrees mark, matched with overcast skies, the first big hatch of the year, Blue Wing Olives (BWO’s), happen. This is the first hatch where fish start coming up consistently and in Montana can happen anytime from March to the beginning of May. The other magical hatch in Montana that has swarms of bugs that blanket the rivers, typically before run off in early May, is the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch. It is something to see during its peak- the sheer number of bugs in the air is astonishing. Once you see this hatch, you will view all others differently. Montana weather can be unpredictable in the spring and you just have to be prepared for anything and everything. But for those not afraid to endure a little “weather”, the payoffs can be well worth the effort.

June:
Depending on the year, June is typically run-off in Montana. Many freestone rivers become unfishable for a couple of weeks and are running high and off-colored during this time. But that doesn’t mean throw in the towel for June, as there is a hatch that lots of people plan trips around and can keep you coming back for more, year after year. We are talking about Pteronarcys Californica, The Salmon Fly (Giant Stonefly). This hatch varies from river to river and starts in YNP as early as late May and can run all the way into early August and usually happens mid-June into July on the Madison River. Because Montana weather and run-off can vary each season, hitting it just right can prove difficult. Nymphing big stonefly nymphs is always productive, especially at this time of year, because even though the adult bugs aren’t always on the water, the nymphs are stirring on the bottom, waiting for their temperature cue to tell them to crawl ashore and morph into big orange flying bombers. If you are there at the right time and can get in on this hatch, it is something you won’t soon forget. The sheer size of this bug brings all the big fish up to the surface for a chance to gorge on this large flying feast. The Madison and Big Hole Rivers have healthy, annual salmon fly hatches that every serious dry fly enthusiast should see.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Primary Season

Getting There

The Madison Double R is located 16 miles south of Ennis, Montana. Most people coming to the lodge will fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), which handles more passengers than any other Montana airport. BZN hosts 8 airlines and offers nonstop flights to 21 US destinations.

There are many options to get you to The Madison Double R and many guests choose to rent a car and drive to the lodge which is around an hour and 15 minutes from the airport. The rental car also gives guests the ability to explore the area’s many beautiful and historic sites along with easy and quick access to the charming town of Ennis.

Shuttles can be arranged from the BZN (Bozeman) airport to the lodge upon request. Please let us know in advance so we have plenty of time to schedule this.

Lodging

The Main Lodge:
This beautiful 3,500-square foot lodge is comprised of two buildings connected with an outdoor trellised terrace. The lounge portion of the main lodge features a full bar with premium wines, beers, and spirits, a stack-rock fireplace, two TVs, and an outdoor covered fireplace porch with stunning views where hors d'oeuvres are served as the sun dips below the horizon.

The other trellised-attached building is the spacious dining room which boasts massive windows with views across the pond and meadows, and mountains views in the other direction. And for much of the summer, the windows slide aside for an immersive outdoor dining experience.

Also in the main lodge is an office for check-in, as well as a gift shop stocked with sunscreen, sunglasses, and Madison Double R branded items to help you remember your stay.

Additionally, there is a 1,000-square foot, fully-outfitted workout room, complete with free weights, elliptical machine, rowing machine, treadmill, and plenty of space for yoga and other exercises. Completing the setup is a hot tub, outdoor shower, and private changing room and shower.

Fishing

Fly fishing in Montana is the stuff of dreams, and The Madison Double R couldn’t be in a better location to take advantage of all the Treasure State has to offer.

The lodge is located eight miles downstream from the Storey Ditch put-in. This section of the river, known as the ‘Miracle Mile’ and flowing along two miles of the lodge property, is the gem of the Madison River. This is also part of the ‘50-mile riffle’, the famous section between Quake Lake and Ennis; here the river drops over 1,500 feet in just over 50 miles, making for endless ideal trout habitat. Their private access to the lower section of this float it is perfect, as it allows their guides to put boats in at the upper end of the property so you can be the first boat on the river and have this remarkable stretch to yourself every morning for outstanding fishing.

Dry fly fishing, streamers, nymphs, hoppers — the fisheries within a day’s drive of the Madison Valley have a style all their own that you’ll enjoy, and want to make a regular habit.

Rates

Double Occupancy (per person):
• 7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $9,975
• 4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $5,700

Single Occupancy (per person):
• 7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing $12,775
• 4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing $7,300

(Additional length stays are available)

Inclusions:

All rates include meals, lodging, guide service, rods, reels, flies, leaders, terminal tackle, and transportation to and from rivers, water, soft drinks, beer and wine served at dinner. Guide service is one guide per each 2 anglers.

Non-Inclusions:

Fishing licenses, airport transfer, special requests, and gratuities. The gratuity amount is a decision of the guest, but a guideline might be 8% of reservation total for the staff and $150.00 per day per guide.

Travel Insurance:

The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard (AIG) and Global Rescue (IMG) coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.
• Travel Insurance Information

Nights/Days	Double Occupancy	Single Occupancy
7 nights/6 days	$9,625	$12,425
6 nights/5 days	$8,250	$10,650
5 nights/4 days	$6,875	$8,875
4 nights/3 days	$5,500	$7,100
3 nights/2 days	$4,125	$5,325

Madison Double R

Seasons Details

Seasons

Getting There Details

Getting There

Lodging Details

Lodging

Angling Details

Fishing

Inclusions Details

Rates

Why We Endorse Madison Double R

Contact Our Travel Specialists

Stay Updated