Information on the Madison River

Beginning in Wyoming at the junction of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers, the Madison River flows through the most thermally active region in the United States; Yellowstone National Park.

Upon leaving the Park, the river Madison River gathers in Hebgen Lake and joins with the waters of Grayling Creek, Spring Creek, Cougar Creek, the South Fork of the Madison and several other small streams. Hebgen Lake contains trout that can weigh up to 12 pounds and can be fished from the shore or a boat. Even though the river downstream from the Hebgen spillway sees fishing pressure for twelve months of the year, this 2 mile stretch can produce quality trout in large number.

Montana Earthquake (Quake) Lake This small section of river gives way to a body of water created on August 1959 by the catastrophic south-western Montana earthquake. Quake Lake offers decent fly fishing for brown trout, which are stocked yearly, along with rainbow trout. The best fishing on Quake Lake occurs in late spring and early summer, and again later in the summer and fall.

The stretch below the landslide dam is called the 'Wasteland' or 'Moonscape' by local anglers because of the flood-water destroyed river banks. Many of the trout below the lake are large and voracious, giving them an advantage in the very rapid water. Downstream the flow is characterized by a shallow, broad, and rapid "fifty-mile riffle," as it has so often been described.

From it’s head, the Madison River flows over 100 miles to its confluence with the Jefferson and Gallatin Rivers at Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks, Montana.

Madison River Fly Fishing Details

In Yellowstone National Park

- *coming soon

Outside Yellowstone to Hebgen Lake

- *coming soon

Hebgen Lake

- *coming soon

Earthquake (Quake) Lake

- *coming soon

Highway 87 Bridge to Varney Bridge

- *coming soon

USGC River Flow Real-time Report

USGS 06037500 Madison River near West Yellowstone MT

USGS 06038500 Madison River below Hebgen Lake near Grayling MT