Montana
Madison River Float
About this float trip
The Madison between Quake Lake and Ennis is known as the fifty-mile riffle, a continuous braided run of pocket water with no real pools and almost no flat water. It is one of the most heavily fished rivers in Montana and still fishes well, because the habitat is that good. Wade fishing is the norm on the upper reaches, and floating is how you cover water between accesses. Note that a section of the upper river is restricted to wade fishing only.
Float the famous "50-mile riffle" from Three Dollar Bridge down past McAtee toward Ennis.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- The fifty-mile riffle, continuous holding water rather than pool and drop
- Salmonfly hatch in late June and early July is the event of the season
- Wild browns and rainbows for the entire length
- Fishing access sites are spaced closely enough to pick almost any float length
Stops
- 1
Three Dollar Bridge
Well-known upper river access with a walk-in stretch.
- 2
McAtee Bridge
Midpoint fishing access site.
- 3
Ennis
The valley town and the end of the classic float water.
When to go
Best time to go
Late June through September, with the salmonfly hatch as the peak.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 3h 1m
Before you go
Know before you go
- Parts of the upper Madison are closed to fishing from a boat. Check the current Montana regulations for the section you plan to float.
- Wind funnels down this valley most afternoons and makes rowing work.
- Montana requires a nonresident fishing license and, on some waters, an AIS prevention pass.
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