Wander the West

Fishing the Madison River in Yellowstone

	Working a small hole on the Madison

October 2006

Spectacular, grand, amazing, and legendary are just a few of the adjectives used to describe fishing the Madison River. The scenery of this meandering river alone as it winds through the west portion of Yellowstone National Park is truly awesome. But the fishing………the fishing is simply straight out of a dream. Imagine hooking up a 24-inch bright, feisty rainbow on a perfectly executed dry fly that you tied yourself. Now imagine playing this fish with a giant bull elk standing directly across the river from you. Sound too good to be true; not with the Madison River. This very scenario could happen at any moment in September along this river.

I was lucky enough to live out the first part of this fantasy this year on a week long vacation that my wife and I took through the Yellowstone area. It was an amazing fish that fought a lot like the Steelhead I’m used to back home in Oregon. The pleasure of catching and then releasing this fish was amplified by the simply gorgeous surroundings.

Most fishermen were out away from the west entrance in the main valley of the Madison fishing the skinny water. Granted the elk were hanging around this area, which made it pretty inviting, but the better fishing is nearer the west entrance at a place called “the Barns hole”. This is where I spent my time. It paid off and starting around 11:00 the bite went off and I began catching fish. Mostly 10-12 inch rainbow with a few whitefish. Then I hooked the big one.

September is a good time to try and pick up some giant brown trout coming up from the lake to spawn. This is what I initially was trying for, but I never did see one. Oh well, next time. And trust me……..there will most definitely be a next time.

- Eric Davis