With over 55 combined years of experience fishing Ennis Lake and Madison River, we have the deep knowledge needed to guide you to the monsters. Located in Ennis, Montana, one of the top fly fishing towns in the world, Red Mountain Adventures is conveniently located to help you with your fishing experience.
We'll take you to the land of giant trout that cruise Ennis Lake. Cast to rising trout or bring them in by stripping small lake buggers is a lot of fun. A day on Ennis lake is a special experience to enjoy the views and tangle with fincky monster trout.
Highlights
- Full-day of professionally guided fly fishing for up to two anglers
What is Included:
Lunch Drinks & Snacks Flies Tackle Rod & Reel Transportation
| Boat | 1 - 2 anglers | Daily | 1 day | $ 525 |
Ennis Lake is a medium sized reservoir that separates the Upper and Lower Madison Rivers. A day trip on Ennis Lake is a great option when planning a Montana fly fishing trip. The lake ... moreis located just minutes from the town of Ennis and is also a short drive for anglers fishing around Bozeman.
Ennis lake is a very shallow impoundment with most of the lake less than 8 feet deep. The inlet where the Channels of the Madison drain into the lake provide shallow flats with weedbeds that harbor outstanding trout habitat. These shallow flats also allow for wade fishing. We use drift boats to access the upper half of the lake during prime hatches that take place on the lake in the late summer. The majority of the fishing on Ennis lake is sight fishing to large cruising browns and rainbows. We either fish directly from the drift boat or get out and wade on some of the flats. Occasionally we split a day with the morning spent casting to rising trout on Ennis lake and the afternoon spent fly fishing the Madison River.
Fishing is good early in the season when the ice first melts but the fish are deeper and blind fishing around drops and structure is most productive. As the summer progresses callibaetis and tricorythode mayflies become the dominant food source for the trout. Intense hatches occur daily in the late summer producing a daily feeding frenzy that every fly fisherman should experience. Trout feeding during these famous hatches have been labeled "gulpers" after the frequent sucking noise they make as they swim around with open mouths while inhaling the hatching mayflies.
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This is a small town with a big heart, a veritable fisherman’s paradise. Located near the fish-filled Madison River, and surrounded by the waters of Ennis Lake, the Ruby River, Hebgen ... moreLake, Quake Lake, Henry’s Lake, the Big Hole River and scores of smaller streams, the town boasts what many consider the best trout fishing in the world. As well known for its wranglers as its anglers, Ennis has succeeded in maintaining the look and feel of its original, gold town roots. Warm and hospitable, the area offers a wide variety of accommodations ranging from simple campsites, rustic motels and gracious hotels, to full-service, luxury resorts. Fly shops are numerous, stocked by local experts ready to advise and assist, while guides can be booked for trips throughout the area.
Boredom is the only thing unavailable in Ennis. Throughout the summer season the city hosts a series of events, including its renowned 4th of July Celebration Parade and a genuine, old-fashioned rodeo. In August, fly-fishing luminaries from around the US, flock to Montana to compete in the Madison Fly Fishing Festival. Athletes also find their way to Ennis to compete in the city’s Madison Trifecta, two shorter races followed by a full Marathon at 9000 feet, the highest elevation run in America. For the true sportsman, October falls in with the annual Hunter’s Feed. What’s caught, typically elk, moose deer, pheasant and bobcat, gets cooked on the streets and served up to hungry spectators.
Flanked by three grand mountain ranges, The Tobacco Root, Gravelly and Madison, Ennis is scenic and entertaining – truly an authentic, fly fisher’s haven.
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Welcome to Southwest Montana's finest fly fishing adventures. Blue ribbon trout water is literally steps away when you visit us in the picturesque town of Ennis, Montana. You may spend ... morethe day on our home river, the world famous Madison or drive to one of our other local rivers such as the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby or the Jefferson. Whether you are a new angler or an old pro we have the expertise and patience to make your time on the water chasing wild trout a success.
Calibatis hatch still going strong and good pods of rising fish every morning. Weather has been pretty consistent. Ennis Lake usually stays glassed off until 2:00 or 3:00pm. There ... moreare usually bugs on the water until the wind comes up. If you still haven't had enough you can go out in the middle and free drift beggars in the wind.
Lots of fish in the lake this year, but they are very hard to catch. You have to go down to 5x and the timing has to be perfect. You have to put it down soft and right on the money. Madison river fishing Co. has some very realistic calibatis patterns which seem to help. But overall it is not a game for children. Great eye candy though.
Date: Tuesday, 5 Sep, 2017
Ennis lake is starting to warm up and so have the fish. Fish have been starting about noon then it slows down late afternoon. Not a lot of bugs on top yet, but you can catch them on ... morenymphs. Recent warm weather has started a bit of runoff. Lake is still crystal clear. That doesn't mean some color is going to kill fishing. Sometimes they like a little color.
The lake has quieted down with the recent cold front. The mayflys didn't like the cold weather. You can still find some fish out on the flats bobber fishing with nymphs. I think we ... moreneed a couple warm days to crank the food chain back up. Warmer days are in our near future should get food again.
Date: Wednesday, 13 Jul, 2016
Everything is starting to color up the ups and down of spring runoff has begun. We fished Ennis lake day befor yesterday and the water color was definitely off. What I like to call ... moresteelhead green. We fished a long day, got the lake around 9;00 in the morning and got off around 6:00 that evening. Hooked about 15 fish all big, the largest was a 21 inch rainbow but all were over 16in, The MVP for the day was a size 8 crystal bugger fished slow and deep. We used a sink tip line and fished mostly in the mouths of the river channels coming in. Weed growth hasn't really started in earnest ,making the fish a little hard to find. We looked for deep banks and anywhere there was water flowing into the lake Anglers don't seem to like the dirty water as there has been little or no other fishermen on the water since water clarity has changed. The weather hasn’t been particularly inviting either Lots of north wind and rain . Burrr! But like they say in Montana “ no such thing as bad weather just bad clothes”
Date: Monday, 16 May, 2016
Fishing was a bit on the “crisp” side with temps hovering around 30 degrees but the fish didn’t seem to mind. Once the ice melted off enough to get to the river mouths, ... morethe fish were happy to see us. We fished small black buggers down deep on a super slow swing and saw good action on both browns and rainbows. Outside air was cold and frozen guides were a problem but water temps stayed warm enough to keep the fish active. When faced with the frozen guide problem the best solution is to hold the rod down in the warmer water, which usually clears the guides in a few seconds.
We started late in the day due to the cold conditions and ice on the lake. March fishing most often starts late. Sleep in, big breakfast, then hit the water around 12 or 1 when the water warms up. Good news, we saw the first Blue Winged Olive ( mayfly ) of the year. This means the big show is just around the corner. We found two selective fish on the surface sucking down dries. Dry fly season is just around the corner. Weeee!
Date: Friday, 18 Mar, 2016
The warm winds are a coming, ice is melting back, time to let the mind wander from knee deep powder to knee deep water. A long piece of water has opened up, on the west side of Ennis ... morelake. Some fresh water seeps coming up are keeping the ice at bay, and the food chain is slowly coming to life. Went down yesterday with Shawn and my wife and were pleasantly surprised. We were casting a small grizzly buggar out on the ice twitching it off, letting it fall to the bottom then stripping it in super slow. Water is cold in both the lake and river; fish aren’t in the mood to do anything fast. Patience is the key. Let them take a good long look at I it. Shawn and Anni each had a couple of fish before I “got with the program” Once I got the right combination fly and technique I caught up in a hurry, One beautiful 21 in rainbow.
It's game on out there. Ice is coming off everywhere and the fishermen are emerging from their winter slumber. On the way to Bozeman saw 4 or 5 drift boats on the lower Madison one boat had a fish on. The 2016 fishing season has begun. Heading up river tomorrow to see if the fish are awake, higher up. Tight lines everyone!
Date: Monday, 15 Feb, 2016
Cancellation Policy
Standard
- Cancellations made 14 days before will be fully refunded.
- Cancellations made 7 days before will be refunded 50% of the amount paid.
- Cancellations made at a later date will not be refunded.
Payment directly with Stalking Giant Trout on Ennis Lake with Red Mountain Adventures.
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