Because "match the hatch" beats "cross your fingers." Dates slide with snowpack and weather, but this calendar keeps you in the ballpark.
The Madison River hosts reliable hatches from January through December. This chart covers every major insect you'll encounter, along with specific fly patterns, sizes, and colors. For seasonal timing details, see our month-by-month fishing guide.
| Approx. Window | Insect | Size | Water / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Jan to Mar | Midges (Chironomidae) | 18-22 | Slow side channels; fish before noon. |
| Early Apr | Skwala Stone | 10 | Warm afternoons below Palisades. |
| May | Mother's Day Caddis (Brachycentrus) | 14-16 | Thick on Lower Madi; evenings explosive. |
| Late Jun to Mid Jul | Salmonflies (Pteronarcys Californica) | 4-8 | The big show; starts around June 25 and crawls upstream |
| Late Jun to Jul | Golden Stones (Hesperoperla pacifica) | 8-12 | Follows salmonflies by a week or so |
| July to Aug | PMDs (Pale Morning Duns) | 14-18 | Cloudy mornings; emerger film eats. |
| Mid Jul to Aug | Hoppers, Ants, Beetles (Terrestrials) | 6-14 | Banks 11 AM to 4 PM when wind kicks up. |
| Late Jul to Sept | Callibaetis | 14-16 | Still-water runs & side channels |
| Aug mornings | Tricos | 20-24 | Early AM spinner falls on slick water |
| Sept to Oct | Blue Winged Olives (Baetis) | 18-22 | Overcast afternoons, especially in the canyon. |
| Year-round | Caddis & Sculpin | 10-16 | Caddis pop most evenings; strip sculpin all seasons. |
Midges hatch year-round but dominate winter fishing. Trout key on larvae, pupae, and clusters of adults. Carry a variety.
The main event. Salmonflies (#4-6) come first in orange/black, followed by golden stones (#8-10) in yellow/gold. Big flies, big fish, big takes. Visit our salmonfly season guide for timing details.
When hatches fade, terrestrials take over. Hoppers, ants, and beetles blow into the river on windy afternoons. Fish tight to banks and give the fly a twitch.
When nothing hatches or you want to target bigger fish, strip streamers. Fall brown trout fishing relies heavily on these patterns.
The hatch chart gives you a starting point, but conditions on the water dictate final fly selection. Here's what to watch for:
For the salmonfly hatch, use #4-6 foam patterns like Chubby Chernobyl (orange/black), Norm's River Hi-Vis, or Henry's Fork Foam Stone. Carry #6-8 Pat's Rubberlegs in black and coffee for nymphing. Tie on a #10 golden stone dropper since both hatches overlap.
Madison River caddis range from #14-18 depending on species. Mother's Day caddis (May) run #14-16 in tan/brown. Summer evening caddis are smaller at #16-18 in tan and gray. Match the body color to naturals on the water.
PMDs (Pale Morning Duns) hatch from early July through mid-August on the Madison River. Peak activity occurs between 10 AM and 1 PM on overcast days. Use #16-18 patterns in pale yellow and olive. Emergers and cripples often outfish standard duns.
Top hopper patterns include Morrish Hopper (#8-10) in tan, yellow, and peach; Dave's Hopper (#8-10); and Parachute Hopper (#10-12). High-visibility patterns work best in choppy water. Add a beadhead dropper 18 inches below for fish that won't commit to the surface.
Winter fishing targets midges almost exclusively. Use #18-22 Zebra Midges (black/silver, red/silver), Mercury Midges, and Griffith's Gnats for surface clusters. Fish tiny patterns under a small indicator in slow water. Trout feed in the film on sunny afternoons.
Plan your Madison River trip with these guides: