I've never fly fished in my life (TBH, I rarely even FISH). So when I learned our 2022 corporate leadership trip would be a 3-night fly fishing excursion on Montana's Madison River, I was honestly skeptical. But not did I learn how to cast a fly (and land a Trout!), but my visit to Madison Valley Ranch ended up being one of the best trips I've ever taken. From the moment you walk in the door, the ranch rolls out the red carpet. After being welcomed with a cold draft beer and tour of the property, we settled into our very comfortable guest rooms to unwind before dinner. Whether you plan to fly fish or not, the entire ranch is designed to make you feel at ease, and at home -- from the incredible back porch views to the outrageously good dishes served up at every meal. Manu and her team take customer service to a new level, from equipping you for an incredible day on the river to selecting the perfect bottle of Cabernet to pair with your dinner. No detail is too small for them, and no request goes unmet. The accommodations are as comfortable as any 4-star hotel, the meals as delicious as any gourmet restaurant, and the views as beautiful as a slice of heaven. And with ample meeting space for corporate groups, its the perfect setting for a team-building escape. I simply can't say enough about Madison Valley Ranch -- whether you're an experienced fisherman or just learning to cast a fly, it's hard to imagine a better place in America to put your rod into the river. read more

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This a slice of heaven. I almost don't want to tell anyone else about this secret. The Lodging is comfortable and friendly and the staff is so genuine and warm I miss them!!! Seriously, Elizabeth is like a your favorite sister who is so happy that you've finally come home. The food is serious gourmet... As good as some of the best restaurants in Denver, San Francisco, DALLAS, NY and ect. Scott, the executive chef has serious chops and makes excellent use of natural organic and wild game ingredients. But let's not forget the fishing. Actually, the fishing sucks and no one should ever even think about putting a line in the water around here. That's right...these ARE NOT THE DROIDS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR... read more

Madison Valley Ranch - So pretty I almost didn't eat it. - Vacation Rentals Near Me - Ennis, Montana

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Honestly one of the BEST vacations we've ever taken!! So I hadn't fly fished for nearly 15 years, but really missed it, and my wife randomly said she wanted to try it... really? Hmmm... I had one shot to make this a longterm investment... find a place that would have her hooked on flyfishing for life. Criteria: 1. Fantastic fly fishing 2. Incredible, gourmet food 3. Breathtaking scenery 4. Not roughing it. What we got: All the Above and top notch service and amazing table company. All the guests we met were very friendly, and MOSTare return customers. Madison Valley Ranch (MVR) is located about 15 minutes from Ennis, MT -- one of the premier fly fishing capitals of North America (town slogan: population 840 people and 11,000,000 trout). It's located along the famed Madison River. All around this tiny town the flyfishing vibe surrounds you from sculptures to the many local fly shops (several of which I've never seen such insane, monstrous fly shops). So I originally sent out a bunch of emails for fishing lodges and ranches in Montana. Elizabeth, the lodge manager at MVR was BY FAR the most helpful, enthusiastic, and punctual. I checked out there website, made a few phone calls, and it was clear that customer service, flexibility, and catering to their customers' needs was their priority. We booked the trip for 5 nights and 3 days of guided fishing on the Madison River in a drift boat. On arrival, Elizabeth came out of the Ranch and greeted us in her always enthusiastic and excited way. We were shown to our room and then half an hour later, she was ready for my re-introduction and my wife's first fly casting lesson at the ranch's 2 acre pond. Elizabeth was a fantastic teacher. We fished at the pond for an hour, and then went back to outdoor deck for evening appetizers by the Ranch's chef, Scott. Scott's the real deal, culinary school trained in the Pacific Northwest with post graduate training at the Culinary Inst. of America in Napa (Greystone) -- and it shows. The food is incredible. Appetizers during our 5 days included: shrimp nachos, teriyaki beef skewers, spicy bison meatballs, cocunut shrimp, Grilled garlic shrimp, fresh made guacamole, prosciutto wrapped melon, assorted cheeses, chicken quesadillas.... keep in mind this is just for pre-dinner appetizers. This is at 6:45 pm daily and takes place outdoors on the deck along with a complete selection of complimentary wines and local microbrew beers (wines included Napa Cabs, Argentine Malbecs, Pinot noir, CA chardonnay and sauvignon blancs, and CA zinfandel). Dinners were incredible... 4 course meals usually with a gourmet salad, appetizer/soup, main entree, and dessert. What we loved was that the food was fantastically presented, great tasting, and NOT fried, rich, or fatty. It was gourmet, healthy at its best with things like: potato leek soup, local Montana-raised grass fed Bison tenderloin, dijon crusted pork tenderloin, duck confit salad, roasted duck, stuffed pheasant, cornbread crusted local-raised rainbow trout, etc. The bread pudding was the best I've ever had (and I like to consider myself a bread pudding connoiseur). They were great with special dietary needs (wife is lactose intolerant). Needless to say the food is awesome... breakfasts by Scott were just as fantastic. Packed lunches are made to your order for dining on the water... which leads me into the fishing. WOW. The Madison River is beautiful. The fishing was fantastic for rainbow and brown trout. Drift boat fishing in the Madison is perfect for both experienced and beginners alike. My wife was so happy with the fishing thay she requested we skip hiking on our rest day and fish again... so we did (no complaints here!). We fished dry flies, streamers, and nymphs. Daily fish counts varied, but all 4 days were really enjoyable.... we both caught rainbows and browns up to 19". The fishing really was spectacular. Our guides wereawesome, and though I fly fished in my youth, they all helped me with improving my "self-taught" techniques. Best of all, the wife is hooked... I can't remember the last vacation where she wanted to buy lodge/resort logo wear... but she did here. She loved it. If you needed anymore reasons to come here, the Channels section of the Madison River is just behind the property. It's a short walk and a wade only section of the river that looks straight out of a movie. Next time, I'm spending at least one day just fishing this area. Also, if you're a beginner or traveling with a beginner, there's nothing better than a 2 acre casting pond to get your feet wet, with instruction from Elizabeth. It also helps that it is stocked with a tough, British Columbia strain of rainbows that are huge! I landed about a 3 pounder -- that's why they call it Jurassic pond! We love this place and will be back. I'll post some photos... check them out. PERFECT... need i say more? read more

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Took my father on a bucket-list trip fly fishing on the Madison. Picked this place based on its Orvis enforcement. Was not disappointed at all. The accommodations and staff was great. The meals were as good as any top notch restaurant. In fact, the almond encrusted trout was probably the best trout I've ever had. This was the first time fly fishing for me and my father. The guides were incredibly patient and instructive. I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for a premium fly fishing lodge in a beautiful setting. read more

Everyone else posting a review on here to date is spot-on. All I could think about while I was here was "living the dream". The ranch is beautiful. The food is world class. The amenities are numerous ("Welcome! Can I offer you a local craft brew or a glass of wine?"). The manager/assistant manager take care of everything and do everything they can to ensure a perfect stay. The pond is stocked and the Madison is right in the backyard. The guides know what they're doing and have the patience of saints. I could go on and on. I dreamed of fishing in Montana for years, and they made it happen with every little luxury you can imagine. I plan to tell everyone I know about it and hopefully return one day! read more