What special fishing regulations apply at Madison River?

Madison River carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout and Brown trout. One of them reads: "Rainbow trout CATCH-AND-RELEASE only from the YNP boundary downstream (anglers 14 and under may keep 1); Quake Lake outlet to Varney Bridge ALL trout catch-and-release, artificial lures only, no fishing from boats on the wade-only '50-mile riffle'; Ennis Dam to the mouth northern pike no limit." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Madison River?

Yes. Madison River is in Montana, so a valid Montana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Madison River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.

Do Madison River's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Madison River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Madison River?

Rainbow trout and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Madison River, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

2026 regulation year

Madison River 2026 — Montana Fishing Regulations

Montana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Madison River carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Montana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Rainbow trout, Brown trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Rainbow trout CATCH-AND-RELEASE only from the YNP boundary downstream (anglers 14 and under may keep 1); Quake Lake outlet to Varney Bridge ALL trout catch-and-release, artificial lures only, no fishing from boats on the wade-only '50-mile riffle'; Ennis Dam to the mouth northern pike no limit
Source: Montana special-water list

Per-species rules on Madison River

Rainbow trout regulations →
Rainbow CATCH-AND-RELEASE from the YNP boundary down; Quake Lake outlet to Varney Bridge ALL trout catch-and-release, artificial lures only, wade-only
Brown trout regulations →
Quake Lake outlet to Varney Bridge ALL trout CATCH-AND-RELEASE, artificial lures only, wade-only (no boats); brown trout to 8+ lb on the wild-trout reaches

Official source

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Montana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Montana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Montana trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Montana

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Madison River?: Madison River carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout and Brown trout. One of them reads: "Rainbow trout CATCH-AND-RELEASE only from the YNP boundary downstream (anglers 14 and under may keep 1); Quake Lake outlet to Varney Bridge ALL trout catch-and-release, artificial lures only, no fishing from boats on the wade-only '50-mile riffle'; Ennis Dam to the mouth northern pike no limit." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Madison River?: Yes. Madison River is in Montana, so a valid Montana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Madison River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.
Do Madison River's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Madison River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Madison River?: Rainbow trout and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Madison River, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

← Back to Montana regulations overview