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 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.
