bluestreamflyFind water
Menu
Madison River at the monitoring location near West Yellowstone, Montana
All Montana reports

Madison River Fishing Report — West Yellowstone, Montana

Photo: National Park Service Opens in a new tab. · No claim to original U.S. Government works; no National Park Service endorsement

Should I go fishing?

Check before you go.

A report-wide restriction or advisory needs verification before fishing.

Do not rely on the score, access-mode ranking, or fishing recommendations until the report-wide restriction or advisory is verified with the official source.

See the source check time with the notice
Check the official noticeCheck river sources

Restrictions and advisories

Check Madison River before fishing.

These notices match this river report. No notice here does not mean the river is open. Always check the agency before you fish.

Last known active — check nowOfficial restrictionLegal closure

Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the upper Madison River

Area
Yellowstone National Park boundary downstream to Hebgen Reservoir
Link checked
Link status
Check the agency now
Check again by
Starts
Daily hours
Daily, 14:00–24:00 (America/Denver)
Repeats
Daily from 2:00 p.m. to midnight
What to know about this notice

This route mapping covers the Madison reach near West Yellowstone outside the park; it does not apply the Montana notice to Yellowstone National Park water.

The West Yellowstone report covers the Montana reach from the park boundary toward Hebgen Reservoir.

Open the official notice: Montana FWP current waterbody closures and restrictions Opens in a new tab.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
290 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 53.8°F · 24h high 63.5°F · USGS provisional
Air forecast
31°F
Next 24h high
71.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
0%
Latest stored weather check

Mostly Sunny

Wind
0 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Mostly Sunny

National Weather Service

West Yellowstone, MT

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

RiverReports gauge: Madison River at West Yellowstone

Water 53.8°F · provisional · 24h high 63.5°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Fly choices are paused.

Check the current warning, restriction, or advisory before choosing flies or tactics.

Seasonal fly and tactic guidance stays hidden while this stop or unverified notice applies.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

Fishing advice is paused.

Use the official notice and current conditions instead of fishing advice.

Do not rely on the score, access-mode ranking, or fishing recommendations until the report-wide restriction or advisory is verified with the official source.

Madison River access and rules.

Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.

Before you go

At the August 19, 2026 review, Montana FWP listed the Madison River from the Yellowstone National Park boundary to Hebgen Reservoir closed to fishing daily from 2 p.m. through midnight, effective July 11, with no end date shown. The 2026 rules also require rainbow trout to be released on this reach, except anglers age 14 or younger may keep one rainbow trout daily and in possession, any size. Recheck both official sources before fishing.

Rules by reach

Rules by reach: fishing rules by reach and season
River section and seasonFishing rules
Yellowstone National Park boundary to Baker's Hole

Montana rules begin at the boundary. Confirm a legal public entry, the current 2 p.m.–midnight restriction, and the separate status of adjacent Park water before fishing.

Official rule
Baker's Hole to Hebgen Reservoir

Use Baker's Hole as the verified access landmark and Hebgen Reservoir as this report's downstream boundary. No launch or takeout is verified by this review.

Official rule

Where to access the river

Baker's Hole Campground

The Forest Service identifies Baker's Hole on the Madison River three miles north of West Yellowstone. It was listed open on August 19, with a weather-dependent May 1–October 11 use season. Treat it as a campground and access landmark, not an FWP Fishing Access Site or verified boat ramp.

Site details
  • Baker's Hole is the verified access landmark in this review. It is not an FWP Fishing Access Site and no boat ramp was verified.
  • A visible bank, road shoulder, or fence opening does not prove legal entry. Use signed public access and respect private property.
  • The active Montana restriction and the separate Yellowstone National Park closure govern different water. Confirm which side of the boundary you are on.
  • This page supports a short wade or bank plan only. No launch, takeout, or boat itinerary was verified.

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

WyomingMadison River in Yellowstone National Park fishing reportUse the separate park report for the Madison Junction-to-boundary reach, current Yellowstone fishing rules, thermal restrictions, and park access—not for the Montana water north of West Yellowstone.MontanaGallatin River fishing reportA separate regional report to compare only after checking its own restrictions, flow, temperature, and access.
See all Montana fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

See all 9 checked sources

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

Recently checked. Last checked . Conditions and rules can still change, so open decision-critical links before fishing.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

Trip guidance checked

What was checked: This review uses official regulation, flow, temperature, access, weather, and public-river sources. BlueStreamFly does not claim a field visit, local field test, current hatch observation, or first-hand conditions report for this update.

Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.

First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.

Check the official notice first.

Fishing tips stay hidden until the official notice is clear.