Montana
Madison Double R
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Trip Summary
Madison Double R is an all-inclusive fly fishing ranch located on 1,200 acres approximately 10 miles south of Ennis, Montana. The property provides private ranch access to one mile of Madison River frontage, while guided trips can also explore the Ruby, Jefferson, lower Big Hole, regional lakes, and select Yellowstone-area waters when conditions and logistics allow. Guests stay in spacious standalone cabins and gather in a central lodge for meals, drinks, and evening relaxation. Standard packages include three to five nights and two to four guided fishing days, normally with two anglers sharing each guide and boat. The combination of excellent home water, diverse regional fishing, polished accommodations, and activities for non-anglers makes Madison Double R particularly well suited to couples, small groups, and private lodge buyouts.
Who's It For?
One Mile of Madison River Frontage
The 1,200-acre ranch borders approximately one mile of the Madison River just south of Varney Bridge. Guests benefit from direct access across the ranch property, although the Madison remains public water and should not be described as a private river.
Diverse Southwest Montana Fishing
The Madison is the primary fishery, but guides may also recommend the Ruby, Jefferson, lower Big Hole, Ennis Lake, Hebgen Lake, or select Yellowstone-area waters. Availability depends on conditions, travel time, regulations, licensing, and the specific package.
Spacious Cabin Accommodations
Seven Creekside and Open Range cabins provide individual guest accommodations, while two larger Mountainview cabins each contain two bedrooms and a shared living area. This configuration supports couples, fishing partners, families, and private groups.
Full-Service Ranch Experience
Beyond fishing, guests have access to refined dining, a full bar, a recreation room, fitness facilities, a hot tub, ranch trails, stocked ponds, and optional activities. Horseback riding, massage treatments, Yellowstone tours, golf, and other experiences may require advance arrangements and additional charges.
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
WHY BOOK WITH TRIDENT
- No Credit Card Fees
- Same Price as Booking Direct
- Earn Trident Rewards
Trident Travel's expert planning service is free of charge.
The rates below are the same as you would pay by booking directly with the lodge.
Rates and inclusions are subject to change at any time. Contact us for current pricing and availability.
2026
Rates are per person. Double-occupancy packages assume two guests sharing the selected cabin and two anglers sharing a guide and boat. Single-occupancy totals include the lodge’s $400-per-night lodging supplement and still assume shared guiding unless otherwise confirmed.
Double Occupancy / Shared Guide
3 Nights / 2 Fishing Days = $4,275
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $5,700
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $7,125
Single Occupancy / Shared Guide
3 Nights / 2 Fishing Days = $5,475
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $7,300
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $9,125
Non-Angler Package
Accommodations and Standard Lodge Services = $1,025 per person, per night
What's Included:
- Selected guest accommodations
- Guided fishing on each included fishing day
- Two anglers per guide and boat
- Guide transportation between the lodge and the selected fishing water
- Standard boat and river-shuttle expenses
- Breakfast, fishing-day lunch, appetizers, and dinner
- Standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at the lodge
- Use of lodge rods, reels, flies, terminal tackle, waders, and boots when needed
- Daily housekeeping
- Complimentary WiFi
- Access to the lodge, recreation room, fitness facility, hot tub, stocked ponds, and ranch grounds
What's Not Included:
- Airfare to and from Montana
- Rental cars, airport transfers, and other transportation to or from the lodge
- Montana fishing license and associated state requirements
- Yellowstone National Park or Idaho fishing permits when applicable
- Lodging and resort taxes
- Single-occupancy supplement
- Private-guide or private-boat arrangements unless specifically included
- Horseback riding, massage treatments, golf, tours, and other premium activities
- Special requests or customized arrangements
- Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Personal purchases and incidental expenses
- Travel insurance
Gallery
Seasonal Fishing
Calendar
Early spring can provide relatively light fishing pressure, active midges and Blue-Winged Olives, and opportunities to fish before peak runoff. Caddis activity may become important as the water warms. Conditions can change quickly, with cold fronts, wind, rain, and snow all possible.
Runoff can affect the Madison and surrounding fisheries, although the regulated flows below Hebgen and Quake lakes can provide greater stability than many freestone rivers. Tributary runoff can still influence clarity. Salmonflies may begin appearing late in the month, but timing changes annually.
Summer provides the broadest mixture of hatches, including Salmonflies, Golden Stones, Pale Morning Duns, caddis, and terrestrials. Hopper and dry-dropper fishing can become important later in the summer. Warm-water restrictions may require early departures, shortened days, or fishing different waters.
Cooler water, lower fishing pressure, changing foliage, and fall streamer fishing make this a popular period. Blue-Winged Olives, midges, terrestrials, and selective dry-fly opportunities remain possible. Guests should prepare for freezing mornings, wind, rain, and occasional snow.
Lodging & Accommodations
Accommodations
Madison Double R currently offers seven Creekside and Open Range cabins. Each guest cabin contains two queen beds, an oversized shower, soaking tub, fireplace, flat-screen television, hardwood floors, a kitchenette, and a private cedar deck.The ranch also has two approximately 1,700-square-foot Mountainview cabins. Each contains two private guest bedrooms, a shared living room, kitchenette, and large outdoor deck. The four bedrooms across the two Mountainview cabins can collectively accommodate up to eight guests.The 3,500-square-foot Main Lodge contains a guest lounge, full bar, stone fireplace, covered outdoor sitting area, and separate dining room. Additional facilities include a recreation room with shuffleboard and billiards, a fitness building, hot tub, outdoor shower, stocked casting ponds, trails, and a small lodge shop.
Food
Breakfast and dinner are served at the lodge, while guided fishing days normally include a prepared riverside or boat lunch. The culinary program emphasizes locally sourced ingredients, creative daily menus, appetizers, wine pairings, and polished evening meals.Beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages are available at the lodge. Dietary restrictions and allergies should be provided well before arrival so the culinary team can plan appropriately.
Connectivity
Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the lodge and guest buildings. Cellular reception depends on the guest’s carrier and should not be treated as guaranteed. Guest cabins have televisions, but anglers should expect reduced connectivity when fishing away from the ranch.
Target Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
5-Day Itinerary
Each day is carefully planned to maximize your fishing success while experiencing the best of what this destination has to offer. Itineraries are flexible based on conditions and guest preferences.
Fly to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, rent a vehicle or meet a previously arranged private transfer, and travel approximately 1.5 hours to the ranch near Ennis. Check-in normally begins after 3:00 PM. Settle into your cabin before drinks, appetizers, and dinner at the Main Lodge.
After breakfast, meet your guide and discuss current conditions, fishing goals, and the day’s destination. Most days focus on the Madison River from a drift boat or raft, although another regional river or lake may be recommended when conditions warrant. Fishing may combine casting from the boat with appropriate wading opportunities. Lunch is served on the water before returning to the ranch for appetizers, drinks, and dinner.
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and check out before 10:00 AM. Drive or take a previously arranged transfer to Bozeman for the flight home. Allow additional travel time during periods of winter weather, road construction, or heavy seasonal traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
GET IN TOUCHThe Madison River is the lodge’s primary fishery. Depending on conditions and the selected program, guides may also recommend the Ruby, Jefferson, lower Big Hole, Ennis Lake, Hebgen Lake, select Yellowstone-area waters, or other regional fisheries. Alternative destinations can involve additional driving, permits, advance planning, or added charges.
The ranch provides private access across its property to approximately one mile of Madison River frontage. The access is exclusive to ranch guests, but the Madison River itself remains public water under Montana law. The frontage should therefore be described as private ranch access rather than a private river.
The standard fishing season generally extends from April through October. Spring offers lighter pressure and strong midge, Blue-Winged Olive, and caddis activity. Late June and July bring major stonefly hatches, while late summer provides terrestrial fishing. September and October offer cooler water, fewer anglers, fall hatches, and streamer opportunities. No period guarantees specific weather, hatches, or catch rates.
The Madison below Hebgen and Quake lakes is more regulated than many Montana freestone rivers, but it is not immune to runoff. Snowmelt and discolored tributaries can affect water clarity and fishing conditions, particularly from late May into June. Guides monitor several rivers and lakes and may recommend a different destination when another fishery offers better conditions.When does the Salmonfly hatch occur, and can it be guaranteed?
Salmonflies commonly appear on sections of the Madison from late June into early July, generally progressing upstream as water temperatures change. The precise timing, duration, and location vary every year. Even during the expected hatch window, anglers should be prepared to use Golden Stones, caddis, Pale Morning Duns, nymphs, streamers, and other presentations.
Two anglers normally share a guide and drift boat or raft. After breakfast, the guide selects a river section or alternative fishery based on conditions and guest preferences. Madison River days are primarily float trips with stops to wade when appropriate. Smaller rivers and selected Yellowstone-area waters may involve more wading. The pace and techniques can be adjusted for both beginning and experienced anglers.
A 9-foot, 5-weight rod with a floating line is the most versatile Montana Trout setup. A 6-weight rod is useful for wind, larger dry-dropper rigs, streamers, and stillwater fishing. Leaders generally range from approximately 7.5 to 12 feet and 2X through 5X, depending on the presentation. The lodge can provide rods, reels, flies, terminal tackle, waders, and boots when needed, although anglers may prefer using familiar personal equipment.
Techniques vary substantially with season and conditions. Spring can involve midges, Blue-Winged Olives, caddis, and subsurface presentations. Summer brings stoneflies, Pale Morning Duns, caddis, dry-dropper rigs, and terrestrials. Fall often combines Blue-Winged Olives, midges, and streamer fishing. Guides may use dry flies, nymphs, dry-dropper rigs, or streamers, and anglers should not expect exclusive dry-fly fishing every day.
Many Madison River Trout fall within the approximately 12- to 18-inch range, with quality fish exceeding 18 or 20 inches possible. Larger Brown Trout are present but should be considered exceptional rather than routine. Catch numbers and fish sizes depend on water temperature, flows, weather, hatches, angler ability, and fishing pressure, so no particular result can be guaranteed.
During hot summer periods, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks may impose time-of-day fishing restrictions to protect Trout. A typical hoot-owl restriction closes designated waters from 2:00 PM until midnight, although exact waters and times can change. Guides may depart earlier, finish sooner, or select colder water when necessary. Guests should review the current Montana closures and restrictions before traveling.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the closest major commercial airport and is approximately 1.5 hours from the ranch. Guests normally rent a car or arrange a paid transfer. Ennis Big Sky Airport serves private and charter aircraft but does not offer regular commercial airline service. Airport transportation is not included unless confirmed in writing. Anglers must purchase the appropriate Montana fishing license and any required Conservation License and Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass before fishing. Yellowstone National Park requires its own fishing permit, and a separate Idaho license is required if the itinerary includes Idaho waters.
Medical emergencies and evacuations can happen in remote destinations, which is why we strongly recommend enrolling with Global Rescue before your trip. Global Rescue provides industry-leading medical and security evacuation services, and they also offer comprehensive travel insurance plans serviced through IMG. This all-in-one solution allows anglers to secure both emergency evacuation coverage and travel insurance through a single provider, helping ensure you’re protected if something unexpected occurs before or during your trip.
