Montana
Madison River below Hebgen Lake near Grayling
Current River Rating
Fair · 70
Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Consider
Recommended Window
Sunday, 5:00 PM–8:00 PM
Why
- Water temperature is within the preferred trout range.
- Air temperature is comfortable for a river trout trip.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Timing Evidence
Window confidence: Medium
Current Readings
- Flow
- 760 CFS
- Gage Height
- 1.61 ft
- Water Temperature
- 62.6 °F
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 6:45 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 06038500 · 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
Partly cloudy
Temperature
52°F
Feels like
45°F
Wind
5 mph W
Wind gust
5 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:45 AM
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 52°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 50°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 61°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 2 PM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 13 mph
Sat 6 PM
Clear
Temp 71°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Sat 10 PM
Clear
Temp 60°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Partly cloudy
High 73°F / Low 49°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 27 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 75°F / Low 52°F
Chance 28%
Precip 0.01 in
Max gust 24 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Showers
High 58°F / Low 42°F
Chance 81%
Precip 0.27 in
Max gust 36 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 64°F / Low 36°F
Chance 34%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 11 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 Madison River trout destination immediately below Hebgen Dam near Grayling. USGS 06038500 remains the at-location station with live discharge and water temperature. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point. Existing Monitoring-Backed identity is preserved. Not the 50-mile riffle at Kirby Ranch.
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
Madison below Hebgen is the existing upper-canyon / Quake Lake gateway identity. StrikeTracks keeps Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 06038500 (live discharge and water temperature) and completes fishery, access, and regulation surfaces. FWP Madison drainage plan describes this reach as the start of the upper Madison wild trout fishery. 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). Hatch Match publishes destination-specific seasonal salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) guidance from peer-reviewed adult-presence studies. Timing varies with water temperature and is seasonal guidance, not a live hatch observation. Other insect groups remain unpublished where two independent qualified seasonal sources were not found for this identity.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Madison River drainage plan lists brown trout among non-native fishes found in parts of the basin under wild trout management.
Source: Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
FWP Madison River drainage plan describes the current wild trout management strategy; rainbow trout are a primary non-native trout species in the basin including waters below Hebgen.
Source: Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Wild
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Regulated Madison tailwater immediately below Hebgen Dam through the short canyon toward Earthquake Lake.
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 and adjacent public lands below Hebgen Dam. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point, not a FAS pin.
Stocking information
FWP Madison drainage plan: wild trout management. Confirm any current official stocking separately.
Official sources
Verify current FWP Madison Exceptions and closures. Do not remap to Kirby Ranch 06038800, Cameron 06040000, or Ennis Lake 06041000.
Hatch Match
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Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Gallatin, 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
Gallatin
Management Category
Wild trout tailwater
Regulation Scope
Madison River below Hebgen Lake near Grayling
Regulation Summary
Madison below Hebgen: FWP Madison special regulations and Central District Exceptions. Confirm current closures.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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