Madison Valley Ranch, located in the beautiful Madison Valley near the town of Ennis, the self-described Trout Capital of the United States. Madison Valley Ranch offers guided fly fishing on nearby trout waters, wonderful accommodations, and a relaxing western outdoor experience.
At Madison Valley Ranch you can expect to be taken care of by true professionals. From the guides to the kitchen staff and the hospitality team, this group of superstars knows what it takes to deliver a fantastic fly fishing travel experience.
When Scott Carver first laid eyes on the Madison Valley Ranch property, he knew his dream of owning a world-class fly fishing lodge was about to become a reality. Tom Fochtman, Dan Larson and Jeff Millhollin round out the ownership team. Each of them shares a love for the sport of fly fishing and the absolute serene beauty of the Madison Valley and Southwest Montana.
To ensure guests enjoy the finest guidance on the Madison River, the owners entrusted Eaton Outfitters with the role of lead outfitter in 1996. Since then, Chris and Julie Eaton have brought unmatched expertise and a profound connection to the region’s waters. Season after season, the Eaton family and their dedicated team of guides continue to provide guests with unforgettable experiences, sharing their passion and knowledge of the Madison River.
The husband and wife team of Parker and Manu Redmond run a top-notch operation on one of the world’s premier trout rivers. Every detail of the trip is thought over and presented in a way that will assure you leave wanting to rebook for the next year.
As they say when they describe their experience, “This is pure Montana.”

Reservations & Rates

Seasons at Madison Valley Ranch
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
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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 you have to 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 salmonfly (Giant Stonefly). This hatch varies from river to river and starts in Yellowstone National Park 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 flying feast. The Madison and Big Hole Rivers have healthy, annual salmonfly hatches that every serious dry fly enthusiast should experience.
July:
By July the weather has stabilized and the rivers are in great shape and running clear. This is the most popular time to visit Montana. Hatches start to be more consistent. PMD’s, golden stones, caddis and terrestrials are the bugs of choice for Montana trout depending on the river. This is the most reliable and consistent time to fish dries and is also an enjoyable time to be on the river, as well as exploring the countryside. This is also a great time to fish inside Yellowstone Park.
August:
August is hopper season in Montana. Terrestrials like crickets, beetles, ants and of course grasshoppers can be tied on almost any time and typically produce consistent results. During some years fish will really key in on these big floating protein-packed meals, and drifting a big puffy attractor along the grassy undercut banks is a great way to spend the day on a drift boat. Early and late caddis hatches produce fish for those that get up early and stay late. Run down to the Madison after dinner and get a little more time on the water skating some caddis. August can be hot and dry. Bring lots of sunscreen and lip balm.
September/October:
Fall is one of our favorite and often overlooked times to fish. The crowds have left for the summer, days are starting to shorten and the fish feel the pressure to fatten up before a long Montana winter. Hopper fishing continues into September, caddis hatches are still going on and as the days and waters cool, the BWO’s come back, especially on overcast days. Late September and especially October weather can be notoriously unpredictable and being prepared for anything is a key for comfort and success. Sometimes the best BWO hatches occur on cool, gray overcast days surrounding big storms. Midges come back into the game and hatch on sunny afternoons. Anglers can head down to Yellowstone National Park and fish alongside rut-crazed bugling elk for a one-of-a-kind experience. Big browns are on the move and in peak condition; this is the best time to hunt for one of these big boys!

Getting to Madison Valley Ranch
Madison Valley Ranch is located on the other side of the river from the town 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 Valley Ranch 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.

Lodging at Madison Valley Ranch
The new 9,000-square foot Madison Lodge was constructed using industry leading structural insulated panels (SIPS) and Everlog Systems concrete siding. Improved and additional amenities have taken Madison Valley Ranch to the next level of elegance and comfort without sacrificing their traditional and welcoming reputation as one of the top fly fishing lodges in the country.
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Fully air-conditioned, The Madison Lodge houses our expanded kitchen and dining facilities, two guest lounges, a new beer and wine bar and fireplace area, a multi-use meeting room, offices and more. Guest rooms include three upper & three lower level rooms, including one that is fully ADA accessible. Each room features two queen beds, private bath, air-conditioning, ceiling fans and modern amenities with both an exterior porch and easy interior access to the dining, lounge & bar areas.
Throughout the entire design process they’ve made sure that the new building cultivates and maintains the atmosphere that has given Madison Valley Ranch its unique identity. Guests can still expect the highest level of service in a welcoming and relaxed environment each and every day.
Also in the main lodge is an office for check-in, as well as a gift shop stocked with sunscreen, sunglasses, and Madison Valley Ranch branded items to help you remember your stay.
Madison Lodge Rooms:
Boasting unrivaled views of the property and the majestic mountain ranges that envelop it, these rooms immerse guests in breathtaking natural beauty. Meticulously soundproofed to the highest standards, each room ensures a peaceful and rejuvenating night's sleep, allowing you to fully unwind and embrace tranquility. Experience a seamless blend of comfort and captivating vistas in these remarkable rooms, where every detail has been carefully crafted to enhance your stay.
Duplex Suites:
The Yellowstone and Beaverhead suites are located in a private cabin. In addition to having outdoor entrances, private bathrooms and porches, each suite has a back bedroom and a front sitting room with a wet bar, couches and table. The bedroom offers two queen beds. The two couches in the sitting room can transform into twin beds (great for kids or those looking to space out at night!).
Channels Lodge:
This is the closest building on the property to the Madison River. Just a short walk down the path leads anglers to fly fishing paradise - The Channels. It has six spacious rooms, each with interior access to the building's common area, complete with a social lounge for watching sports, playing cards or hosting meetings, a full kitchen, restrooms, mudroom and laundry facilities. The deck that faces the stunning Madison Range is commonly used for relaxing during the evening hours. The Channels Lodge is a favorite for families, friends and companies looking for exclusive use of this very private building.
Bar & Lounge:
The Madison Lodge is complete with all-inclusive wine and beer served from our new bar. Guests can expect carefully selected fine wines, Montana crafted beer, a cozy fireside lounge and plenty of stories about the one that got away. A spacious guest lounge offers recliners situated to watch the Big Games, a game table, library and guest computer and printer. And, they have a guest laundry facility for your use.

Fishing at Madison Valley Ranch
Fly fishing in Montana is the stuff of dreams, and The Madison Valley Ranch couldn’t be in a better location to take advantage of all the Treasure State has to offer.
The lodge is located just down from the bridge in Ennis. This section of the river - known as ‘The Channels’ and flowing along two miles of the lodge property - is the gem of the Madison River. This is also right at the bottom 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 access to the lower section of this
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river is perfect, as it allows their guests to fish a less trafficked area on the river and have this remarkable stretch almost to yourself every morning or evening 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.
Madison River:
The Madison is perhaps the most famous of Montana’s rivers and has been described as the perfect river to fly fish. The famous “Channels” of the Madison run right through the property - this section of the river has everything you could possibly ask for in a trout river – braided channels, wade or float, pocket water, classic riffles, runs, pools, buckets, undercut banks, dry flies, streamers and nymphing; just extraordinary variety, and the Madison has it all. From its origin at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers in Yellowstone National Park it flows for almost 200 miles to connect with the Gallatin and Jefferson Rivers to form the Missouri. Within that distance, the river shows a lot of different faces. Slow and meandering in Yellowstone Park, it flows into and out of Hebgen and Quake Lakes just outside of the Park border. From here downstream is the classic 50-mile riffle, one of the most popular sections of the river and for good reason - it is lovely water to fish and the trout are plentiful and right in the lodge’s backyard. Below Ennis Lake, the river enters Bear Trap Canyon and is pretty inaccessible except at the top and bottom of the canyon. There is some great pocket water fishing in this stretch but it can be tricky to wade and is more often floated with whitewater rafts than drift boats. Once the Madison emerges from the Canyon the flows slow down, and the river widens. This section is called the Lower Madison and offers some great float fishing as well as options to walk and wade. Trout numbers are lower than those above Ennis, and during mid-summer this section has a tendency to warm up, but it is also the place where you can run into some bruiser brown trout if you want to go after them. Throughout the river, fish average 12 - 15” and there are always bigger fish lurking around every bend.
Big Hole River:
The Big Hole is another Montana icon. It starts in the Beaverhead Mountains near the Idaho border and flows 155 miles before it joins the Beaverhead and Ruby just outside of Twin Bridges. Madison Valley Ranch has good access to the lower Big Hole in the Melrose area which offers excellent fishing for browns and rainbows, in a wild and remote setting. As a bonus, there are often sightings of wildlife including Shiras Moose, whitetail deer and bald eagles.
Ruby River:
The Ruby is a wonderful, small meandering stream on which to spend the day. Wade the upper river and cast to willing trout happy to take a well-presented dry fly. Much of the river is difficult to access, but the lodge has some great little hot spots their guides will take you to find fish. Because of the limited access, much of the river remains lightly fished and the thick, willow-lined banks provide lots of solitude and shelter for the angler willing to explore.
Jefferson River:
The Jefferson River is large water that begins near Twin Bridges at the confluence of the Big Hole, Beaverhead and Ruby Rivers. It is not in the same league, fly fishing-wise, as the more popular fly fishing rivers of Montana because of being drawn down by irrigation, a lesser gradient, and mid-summer warming. With lower overall trout numbers, relatively few rainbows and fewer hatches for dry fly fishing, it receives less pressure than the more popular and esteemed rivers of Montana. However, if you are into hunting for a truly monster brown trout, throwing big streamers without the crowds, there is no better river than the Jefferson.
Yellowstone National Park:
You could spend a lifetime exploring the rivers, lakes and streams of YNP. It is a fly fishing paradise and nowhere are there so many great places to fly fish in such close proximity to each other. Rivers and creeks like the Firehole, Gibbon, Lamar, Slough, Madison, Yellowstone, Gallatin, Soda Butte and many others all originate in the world’s first National Park, and Madison Valley Ranch is located a short drive to all of these. Spend a day or a week chasing trout with your guide in the Park while fishing alongside elk, bison and all the other wildlife that are commonly sighted here. Steaming geysers, boiling rivers and not a building in site always makes for a unique and special fly fishing experience.
The fishing style is varied and you catch lots of willing cutthroat, along with rainbows, browns, cut-bows, brook trout, and even the occasional grayling.
Lakes:
Hebgen Lake is a fantastic dry fly lake with “gulpers” - large rainbows and browns that cruise and gobble prolific mayfly hatches off the surface all summer. Quake Lake, just downriver from Hebgen is another great dry fly lake with a huge variety of hatches in a truly magnificent setting.
Guides:
This wealth of world-class trout fisheries wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable without professional and experienced guides who know them well. The Madison Valley Ranch guides are experts on the water, knowing the fish, and being sensitive to your needs. Novice anglers will get patient casting lessons, while expert fly fishers will find their guide can satisfy their high angling expectations. And most importantly, Madison Valley Ranch guides are fun to spend the day with, ensuring a fantastic day on the water.
What Makes This Destination Special and Unique?
Pure Montana-The property is surrounded by mountains and features a trophy trout pond, a challenging creek, and world-class fly fishing within a short walk. This is the Montana you’ve all heard about.
Easy Travel-They are just far enough away from the hustle and bustle, without being inconvenient. The lodge is an hour-long drive from Bozeman that gets more and more beautiful as you go.
Outstanding Hospitality-The accommodations are top-notch. They offer spacious, comfortable rooms furnished and kept to the highest standards with a true mountain ambience. The food is unique and incredible. You will enjoy a breakfast buffet and 4-course gourmet dinner along with fine wines and local beer.
Expert Guides-The fly fishing guides are some of the best in the business and can cater to any skill level. It has been our experience that many of the guests at Madison Valley Ranch go back home having learned something new.
History of Excellence-Madison Valley Ranch has been catering to the fly fisherman of the Madison Valley for 27 years and was voted 2015 and 2021 Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year for all of the reasons mentioned above and more.