Fly Fisherman News Digest: Madison River Trout Enhancement Underway

With the holidays looming in the upcoming weeks, here’s the latest edition of Fly Fisherman news briefs:

Madison River-Norris Reach Island Enhancement Project Underway

It's no little secret that the Madison River is a special place for fly anglers, particularly in the autumn months when Hebgen Lake brown trout and rainbows make their famed fall run in the Madison and other area streams.

And it's also no secret that the amazing Montana stream has also seen its share of trouble over the years, from overcrowding to sudden dewatering thanks to a malfunction at Hebgen Dam.

So it does the fly angler's heart good to hear of a new cooperative project between NorthWestern Energy, the River Design Group (RDG, now a part of SWCA Environmental Consultants), and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, one known as the Madison River-Norris Reach Island Enhancement Project that will enhance aquatic habitat and restore riparian areas for 11 miles below Madison Dam.

Another partner in the effort is the Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas, which manages some 8.3 million acres of federal lands in the three-state region, along with 47.2 million acres of federal mineral estate properties.

According to a NorthWestern Energy news release announcing the commencement of the project, the restoration effort will seek to protect trout in the river by enlarging existing islands, treating streambanks that are eroding, and providing a connection between riparian wetlands and side channels of the main river itself.

The project began in September 2025 and should be completed sometime by the end of this year. Between now and the anticipated December project completion, anglers and other Madison River recreationalists will be able to access and utilize the river. But since there could be detours on the river thanks to construction activities, it's wise to anticipate that users could be rerouted on their river journey (which authorities say will continue to be in the water and not via portage efforts).  

"We appreciate the public's understanding and cooperation as we work to improve the river's health and fish habitat," note the project's various organizers.

Landsat Historical Data Shows Long-Term Summertime Temperatures on the Rise in Henry's Lake

It's something that we've heard a lot about in recent years, the expectation that climate change will significantly impact freshwater fish species. And because of that, the task of impactful conservation work on behalf of native fish species, already difficult enough, is likely to become even more troublesome in the future.

A recent paper in the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society provides some background on this ongoing problem, using historical Landsat satellite imagery from the Landsat Collection 2 Level 2 archives to see how things at Henry's Lake in eastern Idaho—the large, shallow lake with vital habitat for the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus virginalis bouvieri)–have changed over the past four decades.

Specifically, the paper's authors–Haily Phillips, David Burchfield, and Eric J. Billman–utilized more than 180 Landsat images taken from the months of May–October in the years of 1984–2024.

Along with correcting water surface temperature data obtained from these Landsat archives (by using in situ temperature data, according to the paper’s summary), the results showed that surface water temperatures in Henrys Lake during the July–October period have significantly increased (the paper’s summary says by some 0.11–0.15°C per year).

In fact, the fastest rate of change was observed in July (0.15°C per year), although it’s worth noting that other months did not show similar severe increases. That latter idea is not entirely good news, however, when considered in the broader context.

"We did not detect a change in surface water temperature for May and June," noted the paper's authors. "These findings are consistent with broader trends in lake warming linked to climate change."

What does all of that mean? Unfortunately, the increasing water temperatures in Idaho’s Henry's Lake are yet another potential stressor for the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population iconic to the region. As the species approaches its upper thermal limits for future survival, the scientists say that there is also competition from nonnative species, limited coldwater refugia, and potential algal blooms that will also prove harmful to the future of the famed lake's Yellowstone cutts.

"This study highlights the utility of satellite-based surface water temperature monitoring in assessing climate change impacts on freshwater ecosystems and emphasizes the need for ongoing water temperature monitoring to inform future conservation and management strategies for native fish species," concluded the paper's authors.

Video Highlights North Yuba River Salmon Reintroduction Efforts Entering Second Year

Need a little good news here after the depressing menhaden decision news noted above? Well, how about the North Yuba River salmon reintroduction effort now entering its second year with the spawning and fertilization of some 350,000 spring-run Chinook salmon eggs.

Because of that, an 8-plus minute YouTube video has been produced and distributed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife highlighting the work. 

Entitled Hope Upstream: Reintroducing Chinook Salmon to the North Yuba River, the presentation shows that Chinook's are once again swimming in the river's waters in the mountains of Sierra Country. While Bay Area trout anglers are certainly familiar with the Yuba River, it’s hoped that in the future, Chinook salmon will also reclaim their heritage in the river.

That hope is all because of a combination of cutting-edge science according to CDFW, along with the agency being a part of a collaborative effort that includes the Yuba Water Agency, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Thanks to this work, the iconic species is home again in its historic habitat, after a more than 50-year absence following the construction of the Englebright and New Bullard’s Bar dams. 

"This has never been done before on the Yuba River," said Colin Purdy, the CDFW's fisheries environmental program manager for the agency's north central region. "If we can develop this pilot effort into a full reintroduction program, we would be able to more than double the amount of available salmon habitat on the Yuba River watershed. And that's a huge win for spring-run Chinook salmon.” 

With CDFW officials noting that with the initial goal of the study being to determine if the egg injection process actually works—and if so, to what degree—the potential impact is significant. Why? Because depending on the results and scientific research information gleaned from this project, it could impact not only the Yuba River itself, but also other streams with similar issues.

Flint Creek Outdoors Fly Shop For Sale

With Christmas coming up, you might be wondering what to get for a fly angler who has everything. 

Well, we've got an idea–a fly shop. And one that is in the shadow of one of Montana's crown jewels of fly fishing, the iconic blue-ribbon stream known as Rock Creek.

If that special angler on your list wants to live the Rock Creek dream–and its incredible dry fly action during hatches for caddis, green drake, BWO’s, PMD's and of course, salmon flies–the Flint Creek Outdoors shop is currently up for sale. 

Established back in 2006, the Orvis-endorsed shop in Phillipsburg, Mont. has an asking price of $155,900 with a gross revenue of $254,461 according to the website BizBuySell.com. The shop is actually a satellite location of Missoula's Blackfoot River Outfitters.

Just minutes from Rock Creek and other area waters, this prime location in the downtown area of Phillipsburg has had a loyal customer base built up over the past two decades, along with all of the fixtures, equipment, and supplies ready to have a turnkey buying experience from day one.

Besides, how can Santa go wrong by tucking a fly shop under the tree?

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