7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
309 cfs284 cfs
Sep 5Sep 12
Latest reading: 290 cfs. Stable over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.
All Wyoming reports
Madison River In Yellowstone Park
Photo: James St. John Opens in a new tab. · CC BY 2.0
Should I go fishing?
Yes — worth going.
No single best way to fish. Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Fishing rating70
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 290 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1913-2025, 102 readings) show a median near 396 cfs and a low-water marker near 319 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- A Yellowstone fishing permit is required for anglers 16 and older. State licenses do not replace it.
- Try
- Read the current NPS rule section for the exact reach before rigging.
- Leave when
- Skip the Madison in the park when the reach is not open, the permit or fly-only rules are unclear, water temperatures threaten trout recovery, thermal ground or wildlife makes access unsafe, or road conditions make the chosen pullout impractical.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 290 cfs
- Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingWater 56.7°F · 24h high 63.5°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 37°F
- Next 24h high
- 71.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Madison River near West Yellowstone
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Madison River near West Yellowstone
Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Water 56.7°F · provisional · 24h high 63.5°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Ant PatternsFoam antView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- Grasshopper PatternshopperView fly guide ↗
- Caddis Patterns by Stagesmall caddisView fly guide ↗
- Parachute AdamsView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Late May to June
What to look forCold-water midges, BWOs, caddis, and early stoneflies when park water is open
July
What to look forPMDs, caddis, golden stones, Green Drakes in suitable water, and spinner falls
Flies to try
August to SeptemberThis season
What to look forTerrestrials, ants, beetles, hoppers, small caddis, and evening spinners
October
What to look forBWOs, midges, streamers where legal, and short cold-weather feeding windows
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Madison River In Yellowstone Park today.
Best windows are cool mornings, stable flows, and legal open reaches with safe water temperatures. Hot afternoons, road closures, or unclear rule boundaries should push you to a different plan.
Cool stable flow
Best all-around window for dry-dropper fishing and careful nymphing.
Thermal warmth
Fish early, check temperature, and stop before trout handling becomes stressful.
High spring water
Use heavier nymphs on soft edges only where the reach is open and safe.
Low clear water
Lengthen leaders, use small flies, and avoid repeated casts over visible fish.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading70/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating70/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Madison River In Yellowstone Park worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Wyoming before you go.
The Madison inside Yellowstone is a highly regulated park fishery. A useful plan checks the permit, open reach, bridge restrictions, fly-only rules, native-fish handling, thermal water, and road conditions before discussing hatches.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pale morning dun (PMD)
- Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 290 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1913-2025, 102 readings) show a median near 396 cfs and a low-water marker near 319 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooler weather improves streamer and nymph windows where legal.
Water temperatureHelps
USGS water temperature is about 56.7F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip the Madison in the park when the reach is not open, the permit or fly-only rules are unclear, water temperatures threaten trout recovery, thermal ground or wildlife makes access unsafe, or road conditions make the chosen pullout impractical.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 06037500 near West Yellowstone as the best live trend near the park boundary. Stable flows with cool water are the best fit. Warm water, thermal influence, storm runoff, or temporary closures should shorten or cancel the plan.
Skip the Madison in the park when the reach is not open, the permit or fly-only rules are unclear, water temperatures threaten trout recovery, thermal ground or wildlife makes access unsafe, or road conditions make the chosen pullout impractical.
Start with the park rule page and rule PDF, then choose the area: Madison Junction for formation context, meadow and roadside water toward the West Entrance for the main plan, or the boundary gauge for flow and temperature context.
If the Madison is warm, crowded, closed, or unsafe, compare the Yellowstone River in the park for another permit-first page, the Madison at West Yellowstone for boundary flow context, or the Snake River for a different park-adjacent cutthroat plan.
Madison River In Yellowstone Park 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
Check Yellowstone National Park fishing rules before fishing. This page does not replace the park permit, open-water dates, fly-only rules, bridge restrictions, or native/nonnative fish handling rules.
Where to access the river
Madison Junction
Key orientation point where the Madison forms from the Firehole and Gibbon.
West Entrance area
Roadside access with traffic, wildlife, and rule checks.
Park boundary context
Use the USGS West Yellowstone gauge for nearby flow and temperature context.
- Fishing from road bridges is restricted in Yellowstone.
- Thermal ground and wildlife are real safety issues, not scenery notes.
- Temporary closures can change the plan faster than a static report can.
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 7 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report is maintained from current regulation, access, flow, weather, and public planning sources so anglers can make better trip decisions than a raw gauge or generic overview would allow.
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.
Quick questions
What should I check before fishing Madison River In Yellowstone Park?
Yellowstone fishing permit, 2026 park rules, road status, warm-water closures, USGS flow, and weather
Which flow should I use for Madison River In Yellowstone Park?
Use USGS 06037500 near West Yellowstone for flow and temperature context, then check park closures and reach rules before fishing.
Where should I start on Madison River In Yellowstone Park?
Start with Madison Junction and the West Entrance area, but only after confirming the open reach, permit, road status, and bridge restrictions.
Can I wade Madison River In Yellowstone Park?
Yes in some meadow and roadside reaches at safe flows, but thermal ground, wildlife, and slippery channels make cautious wading essential.