The Madison River is one of Montana's premier trout streams, flowing from its origins at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers in Yellowstone National Park through the Madison Valley to Three Forks. The 50-mile stretch between Quake Lake and Ennis Lake offers exceptional fishing for rainbow and brown trout, with healthy populations of mountain whitefish and occasional westslope and Yellowstone cutthroat. Known for consistent dry fly fishing, the Madison produces prolific hatches including salmonflies and golden stones in late June, caddis through summer, and reliable hopper fishing into fall. The upper river below Quake Lake features pocket water and riffles, while the lower stretch near Three Forks provides broader water suited for float fishing. Popular access points include Lyons Bridge, Varney Bridge, and Three Dollar Bridge, with numerous FWP sites along Highway 287.