madison-river

Madison River (Yellowstone National Park) is a river in Wyoming.

It ranks #7 among the 11 waters of Wyoming in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Its official name is Madison River.

Also called Madison River in Yellowstone and The Madison.

Fished for trout (inferred from the species listed).

Species: brown trout, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish.

USGS GNIS record: 801119.

It shares a watercourse with Madison River, Montana and Firehole River, Wyoming.

Stretches: Madison Junction to Riverside Drive and Riverside Drive to Park Boundary.

Access points: Seven Mile Bridge.

Confluences: Madison Junction.

Barns Pools (hole). It is fishable and wade only. Single source (Fly Anglers Online forum): 'there is the Barns Pools, Beaver Meadows, Grasshopper Bank, Cable Car Run and Baker's Hole'. Also called Barnes Pools.

It is on the stretch Madison Junction to Riverside Drive.

Beaver Meadows (hole). It is fishable and wade only. Single source (FAO forum).

It is on the stretch Madison Junction to Riverside Drive.

Cable Car Run (hole). It is fishable and wade only. Single source (FAO forum).

It is on the stretch Madison Junction to Riverside Drive.

Grasshopper Bank (hole). It is fishable and wade only. Single source (FAO forum).

It is on the stretch Madison Junction to Riverside Drive.

Johansson's Pool (hole). It is fishable and wade only. FAO: 'located downstream a short distance from Seven Mile Bridge'. Also called Johansson Pool.

Junction Pool (hole). It is fishable and wade only. Single source (FAO forum): 'the area of Junction Pool'.

Sourced from 3 independent fly sites.

Sources: Fly Anglers Online, Montana Angler (retrieved 2026-10-20), National Park Service and parksflyshop.com (retrieved 2026-10-20).

Hatches

Salmonfly

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching, peak
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Peak: middle of June (sporadic)

Park stretch; inconsistent.

Sources: Montana Angler

Pale Morning Dun

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Madison in Yellowstone Park, Madison Junction stretch: the June draw is PMDs by day (size 16) and caddis in the evening; good fishing lasts only about a month before the river warms.

Sources: Montana Angler

Caddis

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching, peak
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Peak: evenings in June

Olive and tan, size 12-16.

Sources: Montana Angler

Blue-Winged Olive

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct hatching
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Strongest on cloudy days; size 18; October is the prime month for the migratory trout.

Sources: Montana Angler

Access, closures and rules change; check with the state agency before you go.