Madison mid report

[nomlasder]

Cold, windy, water temps from 42 to 48. Water level the lowest in years.

No one else on the water, gotta love it.

24" Hog, took me almost to the backing twice, running up river, with the water temps in the 40's.

More after we get back.

[chadk]

Now that's a nice bow! Can't wait to see the rest :)

[mike doughty]

water looks great. beautiful 'bow'

[spanishfly]

That bow is a slab!

[nomlasder]

What a great time.

David K and I spent 5 days around Ennis, getting back last Saturday evening. Opening week end for the Elk and Deer hunters so we pretty much had the river to ourselves.
Monday saw us from Varney to 8 mile, getting our trigger reflexes back. Only caught one 18" brown on a girdle bug, black with white rubber legs. ( variation of a wooley bugger )Weather was cold 38 to 45 deg and breezy up to 20mph blowing us down river way faster than we wanted to go. This section is very braided and not knowing the river as well as the locals we could only guess which was the best channel. Needless to say we did a bit dragging to boat but not much.
Second day was warmer up tp 60deg but just as windy. We floated from Palisades to below Macatee Bridge and turned out to be our best day. Not much streamer action but the brown girdle bugs trailed by pheasant tail or hair ear caught all the fish. The one rainbow turned out to be the pig of the trip. Day two got us 3 bows, 2 browns and a couple of white fish. Dead drift through what could be percieved as the deeper water (slots).
Day three put up below Ennis lake, putting in at Warm Springs and out at Canaday. Short float, wind gusting to 35 ( white caps ) pushed us down way to fast but we still managed to pick up several med sized bows. Pheasant tail and flashback hairs ear turned out to be the worm of choice.
Day 4 back to the lower river again, but this day we didnt have the wind. Warm Springs to Blacks Ford had us getting 8 rainbows. David picked up a nice 15"er in front of a guide having lunch. He was not pleased. We did see another pig, and flogged the water to an hour trying to get him to strike but no luck. We saw no browns in the lower river.
Last day was sight seeing, and Deb and went up to Virginia City. The historic community has done a great job gather buildings, and furnishing from the 1860's and presenting them in a way that shows what life was like. A must see. When driving back from the lower river ( Norris) look to your right as you go through the pass and those tracks just might be old wagon tracks.
I spent the last hour wade fishing arount Burnt Tree and picked up another nice Brown. Hooked in the nose, I don't know if he missed or I lined him, but swam back to his hole just the same.

We were told we were about two weeks late because of the low water for the main brown migration. Like I've never heard that before. Water temps were very cold so the fish had to be coerced. Next year I think we'll try the Yellowstone.

We stayed at the Rainbow Valley Lodge, Ed and Jeannie were our hosts and gave us great info, left us alone when we wanted, and provided a very comfortable place to stay. They do have house rentals available for up to 8, cost 1500 chips for a week. 31 bucks a day isn't bad, if a group want to get together and make a deposit.

[Kevin J. Burnham]

Great report man !! Try the Yellowstone for sure. Don't be afraid to fish it down by Big Timber either. Livingston is a great place to base out of !!