North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine February 2016 | Page 25

Madison River,

MONTANA
BY DILLON GIVEN
SANDPOINT FLYSHOP

Of all the rivers I have fished in my life, the one I consider to
be my home water is none other than the famous blue ribbon
stream known as the Madison River.
It is where I spent almost every
evening dry fly fishing in the
summer, and is where I started
my life passion of fly fishing.
I have fished the Madison for
about 15 years from where the
Firehole River and Gibbon River
collide in Yellowstone, down to
Ennis, Montana. The three main
fish species are rainbow, brown,
and whitefish. However, every

year or so I hear of someone who
catches a cutthroat or grayling,
for they are native to the water.
The river averages between
1500-2000 fish per mile, and is
home to brown trout over 10
pounds. Having said that, I have
spent many fishless days getting
my butt kicked by those beautiful
uncooperative trout. I consider
the Madison a MUST for every