Madison Valley Ranch Reviews

My step son and I spent five days at MVR and had an incredible time! The place is amazing and the staff are incredible. We had great meals for breakfast, lunch (on the river) and dinner including delicious wines. The fishing was amazing and I would say the guides were first class. The vistas were beautiful and never seemed to end. Overall, I have nothing but great things to say about the entire experience.

Recently took my father (81) on a long over due father/son trip. These folks were amazing. MVR staff, guides, mangers went above and beyond anything we could have imagined. We were both new to fly fishing and they made us feel like it didn't mean a thing, in a matter of 15 minutes Parker had us ,up and going. The guides they use from Eaton Outfitters are absolutely awesome, as green as we were ,they still put us on the fish. Hats off to the kitchen, everything was delicious. At the end of the day, I truly can not say enough about, Manu, Parker, Zach and the entire MVR team. They knew without me saying a thing, that fishing was important to us, but that a memorable time with my dad was the most important thing. I am truly grateful and thankful. Good lord willing we will return.

Spent a few days with the good folks of Madison Valley Ranch in June 2022. Our first day of fishing with them was the most productive trout fishing I’ve ever experienced. My son and I both beat our personal best records with 20” and 22” brown trout and a number of fish coming in at 18” inches. Our guide Spence was extremely knowledgeable about these waters and knew just where and how to approach each stretch of the river. A true pro.

I have become a regular at Madison Valley Ranch. The new lodge building is even more stunning than the original. If it’s possible, the staff is more accommodating every year. The meals are always creative and satisfying. The fishing guides are always first class and knowledgeable. This is by far the best fishing lodge I have ever stayed at. And what can I say about the fishing in the Madison River that hasn’t already been said.

Food, wine, accomodations-second to none.personel attenion to every need. being in touch with nature @ every turn, with excellent guides and boats,hreat venues to socialize with people in your group !!! Firepit !!

"We have been to some very nice fly fishing lodges, but none quite like The Madison Valley Ranch. The fishing was Great during the salmon fly hatch as we hoped. Everyone was gracious and accommodating and never said No. The guides took photos of our fishing successes and they were displayed on a video screen at supper and printed for us to take home which was a nice touch and generated a lot of discussion among the guests. But the FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE!!! I’ve never been anywhere that served such awesome five course meals: appetizer, salad, soup, entree and dessert. Some of those dishes such as the stuffed quail were better than I had enjoyed at any five star restaurant. This is the first time I gained weight at a fishing lodge!"

"I took my girls to Montana for the first time in their lives. On the bucket list of adventures was flyfishing. We looked up the Madison Valley Ranch and stayed one night and spent one day fishing. All three of my daughters fly fished for the first time in their lives. It was absolutely the most memorable experience for my family. All three girls caught fish (which is absolutely important), but more importantly the amenities the food and the experience were all first class. We will go back and visit this lodge now every year."

MVR was so great for so many reasons. The scenery was just beautiful and the fishing was great fun. Even though we were just beginners, the guides were so good, we were able to catch a lot of fish. The staff....there is not just enough words to say how excellent they are. Manu, Zach and Chef Matt are absolutely the best. I have never been anyplace where the staff made you feel so right at home. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do to accommodate their guests and make them comfortable. So thoughtful and gracious.

This was our 9th consecutive visit to MVR. As with the previous 8 visits this one was also a great experience. The accommodations, food , fishing and especially the people are wonderful. Lodge managers Manu and Zach greet you like family and are always available to ensure that any needs you may have are met . Executive chef Matt and his staff use local ingredients to prepare very creative and very well presented meals. After a day of fishing, tasty appetizers are served at cocktail hour prior to a four course dinner that is served in just the right proportions. Rooms are very clean , comfortable and well appointed. The fishing guides are very knowledgeable about the Madison River. They will put you on fish and also provide instruction to make you a better fly fisher. We had several great days of fishing despite some cold weather. The fish do not care if it's cold. We will be booking our next visit very soon. Thank you Manu, Zach, Parker and Chef Matt for another great adventure at MVR.

My wife and I were hoping to sneak in a nice late-summer getaway in Montana when we happened upon the Madison Valley Ranch. A great stroke of luck indeed! We spent four nights in the "Madison" room of the main lodge and three days drift fishing different sections of the famed Madison River. Our room was cozy, clean and well-appointed, the meals were first-rate (thank you Matt and team!), and the entire staff overwhelmingly friendly and attentive (Manu and Zach are hospitality rock stars!). Our fishing experience on the Madison was everything your could dream for, but the real difference was the excellence of the guides. We worked with two guides over our three days, and they both proved to be outstanding instructors for my less-experienced wife and possessed an almost uncanny sense of where the big fish were holding. I should note that we left all of our fishing gear at home, and it was nice to be fully outfitted with fine Orvis equipment upon our arrival. In summary, if you are looking for an outstanding outdoor experience with top-notch lodging, meals, guides and fishing, look no further than the Madison Valley Ranch. We intend to return every summer!