Montana
Madison River below Ennis Lake near McAllister
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Blocking Factors
- Configured water observations are currently unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 06041000 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
61°F
Feels like
50°F
Wind
16 mph NE
Wind gust
25 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 4, 2026, 11:15 PM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Partly cloudy
Temp 60°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 18 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 55°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 60°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 2 PM
Clear
Temp 75°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 6 PM
Clear
Temp 79°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 18 mph
Sat 10 PM
Clear
Temp 69°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 80°F / Low 54°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 26 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 82°F / Low 53°F
Chance 17%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 26 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 70°F / Low 51°F
Chance 72%
Precip 0.11 in
Max gust 35 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Bounded lower Madison River trout destination below Ennis Lake / Madison Dam near McAllister. USGS 06041000 is the at-location monitoring identity with live discharge and water temperature. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. Not the upper Madison 50-mile riffle.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Madison River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
The Madison below Ennis Lake is the lower Madison trout fishery (Beartrap Canyon and the alluvial valley to the Missouri). StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 06041000 (live discharge and water temperature). FWP notes chronic summer warming on this reach. Flow Context remains default-deny. Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are a native game fish in this drainage per official state fishery management; they are described here because StrikeTracks has no species-selector ID. Confirm current FWP whitefish rules separately (https://fwp.mt.gov/fish). Anderson et al. 2019 found Pteronarcys californica larvae absent below Ennis Reservoir in 2017, so StrikeTracks does not publish a salmonfly Hatch calendar for this identity. Hatch Match remains unpublished for this identity after Option-B local-expert seasonal research. No two independent below-Ennis seasonal charts. Salmonfly transfer remains forbidden.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Madison River drainage plan manages the lower Madison (Madison Dam to the mouth) for wild rainbow and brown trout, with summer temperature limits distinct from the upper river.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Madison River drainage plan manages the lower Madison (Madison Dam to the mouth) for wild rainbow and brown trout, with summer temperature limits distinct from the upper river.
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Wild
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Regulated tailwater below Madison Dam through Beartrap Canyon into a warming alluvial valley toward Three Forks.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing is documented by FWP Fishing Access Sites on the lower Madison, including Beartrap and Blacks Ford area access. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point, not a FAS pin.
Stocking information
FWP manages the lower Madison as a wild trout fishery with fewer large fish than the upper river. Confirm any current official stocking separately.
Official sources
Lower Madison drought closures and hoot-owl restrictions are posted separately from standard regulations. Verify current FWP waterbody closures. Do not remap to Kirby Ranch or Hebgen gauges.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Madison, Montana
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Madison
Management Category
Wild trout tailwater
Regulation Scope
Madison River below Ennis Lake near McAllister / lower Madison
Regulation Summary
Lower Madison below Ennis Lake: FWP Central District / Madison Exceptions. Confirm current closures.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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