OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL!
April 2022
Updated 4/15/2022
It appears that we’re entering another wild Spring here in the Madison Valley! With temperatures almost reaching 70 degrees last week, the whole Upper Madison opening up, to even a foot of snow recorded here in town, things are getting Western!. That being said, the braids entering Ennis Lake are slushy and closing back up for the time being. I would not recommend fishing below Valley Garden and floating into the lake. The fishing has still been great above town here this week. Nymphing has been consistent and if you're willing to throw a streamer some fish have been chasing!
It's been harder than usual to find the deeper buckets with the river still flowing around 650 CFS. Once you locate a deep bucket there tends to be a fair amount of fish stacked up in it. I’ve been throwing Black or Coffee Girdle Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, black or red Zebra Midges, pink or orange French Dips, Wireworms, Squirmy Worms, and small egg patterns. The streamer bite has been pretty hit or miss for me, but if you stick with it you’re bound to get a quality fish. I’ve noticed that black has been the best color for me these past couple weeks, mixing in a little bit of natural. I've been throwing mini dungeons, Gongas, Buggers, Gamechangers, Peanut Envys, and Barely Legals.
With all that being said, get out there and have some fun. Check the forecast and pick a day that works for you and go catch some fish! Please give us a call for local weather or gorge updates. Tight Lines and Pray for Snow! Looking for some fly tying material to create these patterns? Check out our fly tying collection online or stop by the shop! As temperatures turn frigid, continue to practice your best fish handling techniques. Take advantage of the low foot traffic on the river and get out there to fish! Avoid fish pictures for the gram whenever possible so that we can continue to have healthy fish populations for years to come. Give our Cold Weather Gear collection a gander to ensure that you’ve got the proper warmth to maximize your time out on the water.
- MRFC Guide Nicko Opinsky
