Madison River – Yellowstone Park

The Madison River in Yellowstone National Park is formed at Madison Junction, where the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers converge. Both the Firehole and Gibbon are influenced by thermal activity, which affects the Madison's water temperatures. The river flows westward for about 19 miles within the park before continuing into Montana and eventually contributing to the Missouri River. Within Yellowstone, the Madison has a different character compared to its renowned lower stretches in Montana. Here, it resembles a large spring creek with a slow to moderate gradient, featuring long, gentle glides, riffles, and abundant aquatic vegetation.    

Fishing in the Yellowstone section of the Madison River offers a unique experience. It's a wade-fishing only section within the park boundaries. The river holds populations of Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, with resident fish averaging 12-15 inches, though larger fish move into this section from Hebgen Lake in the fall.    

The fishing season in this part of the Madison typically runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through the first Sunday in November. Early season fishing can be good as the water clears after runoff, with hatches of Pale Morning Duns and Caddis being important. The river can get too warm for optimal fishing during the peak summer months due to the thermal influence of the Firehole River. 

The fall is a particularly popular time to fish the Madison in Yellowstone. As water temperatures cool, larger Brown and Rainbow Trout migrate upstream from Hebgen Lake to spawn, offering anglers the chance to hook into bigger fish, averaging 16-21 inches. Nymphing and swinging streamers are common and effective techniques during this period. Access to the Madison River in Yellowstone is straightforward, as the West Entrance Road parallels much of its course from the park entrance to Madison Junction.