Madison River Access (below map)
See also...
Regional Fly Fishing Shops and Guide Service
MM=Mileage Marker signs
MM 0: Highway 287 junction with Highway 87 to Henry's Lake, Idaho. The water from Quake Lake to the junction with Highway 87 is both sobering and challenging. The 1959 quake registered 7.8 on the Richter Scale, and an entire mountain slid down on one of the most productive stretches of the Madison for large trout. A campground was buried, and many lives were lost. Almost forty years later, gray pine tree stalks slant from the river, and the boulder strewn heaps of piled high gravel and rock testify to this horrific event. The water looks barren above the junction, but dedicated nymph fishermen take fish in the fast foam and surface film. From the junction to Ennis, a distance of approximately 50 miles, this famous section of the Madison has been described as a 50-mile riffle.
The best time to fish this section of the Madison is early summer and fall. The first awaited hatch is the prolific caddis hatches of late May and June, but the Madison River's salmonfly hatch is justifiably famous and eagerly awaited. But like the Big Hole and Rock Creek, making flight reservations and motel reservations six months in advance can lead to great disappoints when you are confronted with lingering storms, late run-offs, or heavy or late snow accumulations. Hitting it just right is a crap shoot, but if you have the time and the money, it is more than worth the effort.
Traditionally, the hatch starts during the last week of June through mid July followed by the presence of golden stoneflies. With the announcement of, "Gentlemen, start your engines," an interesting rush to the water takes place. Nymph fishermen head upstream above the hatch to chuck 2 inch weighted Bitch Creeks and various other stonefly nymphs into the cold water. Dry fly enthusiasts rush around probing the river and chasing guide rigs. And the leisure set move behind the advancing hatch knowing that trout have orange memories and rise readily to smaller yellow and orange stimulators.
The
dog days of August calls for terrestrials, but those enticements are often
ignored. One popular and effective technique is to add a bead-head Prince as a
dropper. Realistically, during the heat of August, expect to catch smaller
fish. By all means pound the water mid day with hoppers, beetles and ants, but
do not ignore early morning nymphing techniques and evening hatches of
Blue-wing Olives. September and October bring about a change of tactics with
heavy streamers.
Wade Lake and Cliff Lake: Wade Lake and Cliff Lake turn off is just downstream from the junction. Both lakes are fairly large and may also be reached from the West Fork Bridge access at mile marker 9.6. Both lakes have campgrounds, but fishing from shore is somewhat difficult due to the steep shoreline. The lakes support healthy populations of 10 to 14 inch trout. Wade Lake Campground offers 30 camping sites, Hill Top Campground offers 20, and Cliff Point offers 6 sites and a trailer boat launch
MM 9.6: West Fork Campground: The West Fork Campground offers seven shaded tent camping sites right along the West Fork of the Madison which is a beautiful stream in its own right, offering fair catches of rainbows and browns. The West Fork may be accessed for almost fourteen miles from on a dirt road. The West Fork blows out early during spring run-off and after a heavy storm. Above the West Fork the river clears earlier due to both the nature of the Park and the addition of Hebgen Lake which tends to settle the silt. Next to the West Fork Campground is the West Fork Cabin Camp and RV Campground.
MM 15.7: Lyon Bridge Recreation Area: Boat launch and picnic area
MM 22.7: Palisades Campground: One mile off the highway, Palisades Campground offers 7 camping sites along side of the river with a towering bluff on the other side.
MM 30.8: McAttee Bridge: McAttee bridge has a day use site as well as a boat launch. Three miles down a well maintened road is the Wall Creek Wildlife Management Area and West Madison Campground. If you like sage brush and full exposure to the sun, then this campground provides 22 camping sites and a boat launch.
MM 38: Cameron, Montana: Cameron has a post office and the Blue Moon Store and RV Park.
MM 40: Varney Bridge (campground): The road to Varney Bridge is over three miles on some rough road. Although the campground has a self-deposit fee requirement, it is somewhat old and run-down. Nonetheless, the five or six campsites are on the river bank with mature cottonwoods providing welcome shade. Most locals take the secondary road out of Ennis on the west side of the river to Varney Bridge.
Floaters can choose a half-day float and spend more time out of the boat fishing by taking out at the Eight Mile Ford boat launch, or they may float down to Ennis Campground. The stretch from Varney Bridge to Ennis Campground, unlike the water upstream, separates into many braided channels and islands. Even with this separation of water, the Madison flows swift against undercut banks and tiny islands. This section has traditionally maintained the largest browns.
Ennis Campground: Just across the bridge from Ennis, Ennis Campground is a shaded campground with mowed grass right on the river. The campground is a Fish, Wildlife and Parks campground with 25 camping sites. Before the bridge crossing, look for the turn off to Valley Garden Campground, which is on the secondary road leading to Bear Trap Canyon. From Ennis Campground to Ennis Lake is closed to float fishing.
Ennis,
Montana
The
Madison River from Ennis to Three Forks:
Ennis Lake: The lake is shallow, no more than 20 feet in most places. Solar heating of the lake, often reaching close to 80 degrees during the heat of summer, threaten both the trout in the lake and the trout downstream. In spite of this, healthy populations of three to five pound Eagle Lake Rainbows and browns entice boaters and float tubers.
Ennis
Lake Outlet to Three Forks: The outlet
of Ennis Lake picks up speed as it drops down through the Lee Metcalf
Wilderness in Bear Trap Canyon. Bear Trap Canyon is wicked whitewater country
and should be avoided unless you are knowledgeable about the vagaries of this
rushing canyon water. For floating information contact the Bureau of Land
Management, Box 3388, Butte, MT 59702.
Highway
287 splits at the town of Norris and heads to Cardwell and Interstate 90.
The
Madison River is reached again by taking Highway 84 to Warm Springs and then to
the outlet of Beartrap Canyon. A secondary road, Madison Road, follows the
river to Three Forks. The lower Madison is broad and much warmer as a result of
the shallow water of Lake Ennis. Lower in elevation, the lower Madison's water
temperatures by mid-summer slows down the fishing. Released fish are highly
stressed and frequently die. Spring and fall are most assuredly the best time
to fish the lower Madison.
