Ruby River Fishing Report Updated 10/30/24 The freestone stream above the reservoir is flowing a little below a normal level and the flows from the tailwater are also a little below a normal level. Good hatches are still taking place. Our pre-rigged in tandem midge larva and pupa flies are working good. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone/Tailwater
Species
Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Brown Trout
Mountain Whitefish
Grayling (Stocked)
Location
Southwestern Montana
Size:
Small – 97 miles long
Nearest Towns
Virginia City
Season
3rd Sat of May through Nov 30th.
(Catch and Release Sections)
Special Regulations
Access:
Fair to Poor
Non-Resident License
State of Montana
Weather
National Weather Service Link
River Flows: Above Reservoir
River Flows: Below Reservoir
Seasons:
Seasons follow the general Montana
fishing season.
Winter:
The tailwater section can be a good choice for winter fishing.
Spring:
Except for the runoff, springtime is a good time to fish either the freestone or tailwater sections.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing On The Ruby River In Montana
The Ruby River is a little known, small stream flowing from the Gravelly Mountain range and into a valley located near some very famous trout streams in the Southwestern corner of Montana. If it were not for the Madison River and other famous streams nearby, the Ruby would receive much more attention than it normally gets. Check back with us as we update the fly fishing report on the Ruby River often.
There are really two separate sections to the river that the public can fish. The most fished area is the tailwater below Ruby Reservoir. The other section is the headwaters located on Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest land.
Most of the freestone stream runs though a valley of private ranch property with little or no access. Fly fishing the Ruby River is great in the headwaters and tailwater sections.
The trout in the upper river in the National Forest are mostly rainbows, cutthroats with a few grayling. It lies in a very remote area that takes some time to get to over several miles of gravel roads. Once you are there you will most likely have plenty of the stream to yourself.
You can access the river outside of the National Forest at a few bridge crossings but you better make certain you wade inside the stream. The entire upper part of the river is tightly enclosed with bushes along its banks. There are very few places you can cast from the bank.
Below the dam at Ruby Reservoir in the tailwater section of the stream, you will find some public access sites and a few bridges from which you can gain access provided you stay in the river and don’t get out on private property.
The stream flows through an agricultural valley. The trout in this section are mostly brown trout. Although they don’t have a reputation for being the state’s largest trout, they average about twelve to fourteen inches and get much larger.
The middle and lower Ruby River has its share of private property problems but the fact you can stay within the stream and fish, helps a lot.
The uppermost headwaters provide excellent small stream fly fishing opportunities. Although it takes a while to get there over some rough roads, once you do, you will find it a beautiful secluded stream that is under fished. If you looking for an alternative to a usually crowded Madison River and Yellowstone National Park, give the Ruby River a try. You will find it offers a very good option.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Ruby River: The upper headwaters and the lower tailwater sections fish entirely different. The uppermost section in the National Forest begins for all practical purposes at the confluence of the East Fork and the West Fork of the river. At this point the river could be floated during high water levels in a kayak possibly, but most of the time it would be limited to wading. The problem with the wading is the thick bushes along the stream. Willow trees and several other types of bushes line the banks most everywhere. You have to get into the water where you can and wade upstream.
You want to make short upstream cast as you progress upstream. Wading downstream would spook most of the trout in the river. Dry fly fishing is usually very productive on the Ruby, even with attractor and generic flies at times. Of course nymphs also will catch their share of trout and as a matter of fact, usually far more than the dry fly if there is no hatch occurring.
After the stream leaves the National Forest land, you only access points are at bridges. Some of places are difficult to access because of the high fences at the bridges. It is rather obvious that the local ranches don’t cater to anglers very well. Provided you can get into the stream on the right of way property, you better make sure you stay in the water.
Montana law permits you to do this as long as you don’t leave the stream bed. When you finish fishing upstream, you must turn around and wade the entire distance back downstream. It is possible to reach some of the stream from the lake by boat. We haven’t tried that and cannot vouch for its effectiveness.
The tailwater section below Ruby Reservoir has some public access areas one of which is right below the dam. This area can become crowded at times but the fishing is usually good. The fish are mostly brown trout in this area. Hatches in this area amount mostly to midges. Most of the fishing should be done using nymphs or larva imitations. Double nymph rigs are popular. Most anglers use a strike indicator in this area. The water is relatively deep and the fishing is mostly limited to the
banks.
Farther downstream there are other public access points but in many cases you must wade in the creek to fish outside the public boundaries. Dry fly fishing is better than it is just below the dam and hatches are far more common. At times you may have an entire access to yourself because all in all the river provides plenty access for its few anglers.
Montana law permits you to do this as long as you don’t leave the streambed. When you finish fishing upstream, you must turn around and wade the entire distance back downstream. It is possible to reach some of the stream from the lake by boat. We haven’t tried that and cannot vouch for its effectiveness.
The tailwater section below Ruby Reservoir has some public access areas one of which is right below the dam. This area can become crowded at times but the fishing is usually good. The fish are mostly brown trout in this area. Hatches in this area amount mostly to midges. Most of the fishing should be done using nymphs or larva imitations. Double nymph rigs are popular. Most anglers use a strike indicator in this area. The water is relatively deep and the fishing is mostly limited to the
banks.
Ruby River Hatches and Trout Flies: Our information on aquatic insects is based on our stream samples of larvae and nymphs, not guess work. We base fly suggestions on imitating the most plentiful and most available insects and other foods at the particular time you are fishing. Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in the Ruby River and in all stages of life that are applicable to fishing. If you want to fish better, more realistic trout flies, have a much higher degree of success, give us a call. We not only will help you with selections, you will learn why, after trying Perfect Flies, 92% of
the thousands of our customers will use nothing else. 1-800-594-4726.
Midges hatch throughout the year but are especially important during the times nothing else is hatching in the early season, near the end of the fall season and during the winter. They are more important in the tailwater section of the stream.
The Blue-winged Olives hatch from March through June with April bringing on the largest hatches. There is a second hatch from about the first of September through October.
Stoneflies are important throughout the Ruby River. There are some Little Brown Stoneflies that hatch during March. Golden Stoneflies hatch from about the first of through the third week of June. Little Yellow Stoneflies, or Yellow Sallies, hatch during the month of July. The large Salmonflies are found in the fast water sections of the stream. They hatch during the month of June, usually near the later part of June.
The Pale Morning Duns are as important as any of the mayflies. They hatch from about the first of June through the middle of August. The largest hatches seem to come from about from the middle of June through the middle of July.
There is a Mahogony Dun hatch from about the middle of September to the middle of October. The little Trico mayflies hatch from about the middle of July through the first two weeks of September. They are heavy hatches just above the lake and in some parts of the tailwater.
There is a hatch of October Caddisflies that takes place from about the first of September through the middle of October. This mostly occurs in the headwaters.
The Green Caddis or Sedges hatch during the months of July, August and into September. The Rock Worm, imitating the larva of the Green Sedge is a great fly to use during that time.
Spotted Sedges are plentiful during June, July and August. They are the most abundant species of caddisflies on the Ruby River. The Little Short-horned Sedge hatch during the same time period.
The terrestrial insects, consisting of grass hopper, ants and beetles, are very important, especially in the agricultural areas of the river. That is most everywhere. They are important starting about the middle of June through September.
Streamers are always a good fly to use, especially in the tailwater section of the Ruby River. There are plenty of sculpin and that would be our number one recommendation.
We highly recommend our “Perfect Flies”. They are not only the most realistic flies you can purchase, they are the most effective in catching trout. If you haven’t already done so, we ask you to give the a try. We are positive that you will be very glad you did.
Ruby River Fishing Report: 02/22/2020 We are resuming the fishing reports on the Ruby. Fish near the dam where the water is warmer or
about 39 degrees from the bottom discharge. Midges, Winter stoneflies,
small BWO are hatching, Our sculpin streamers are working good. Shoot us an email for a fly list. sales@perfectflystore.com
03/17/2020 The river is still turning out trout in good numbers including some big browns. Conditions are good.
0418/20 The tailwater is in good shape with discharges and stream levels just a little above normal.
05/04/20 The discharges and levels are high, too high to wade. Fish when
it drops back down.
05/30/20 The river is flowing at a very high level in all sections due to runoff. Fish when it drops.
06/15/20 The tailwater is in good shape right now. The freestone is also
in good shape. Good hatches are taking place.
06/25/20 The tailwater continues to be in good shape with good numbers of trout being caught.
07/07/20 The river continues to be in good shape with good hatches and
good numbers of trout being caught.
07/18/20 Stream levels are in good shape in both the freestone and
tailwater sections. We are getting good reports from customers.
08/01/20 The river is still in very good shape in both the freestone and
tailwater sections. There are multiple hatches taking place and good reports from customers continue to come in.
08/19/20 The river is turning out good catches in the tailwater and freestone sections. Good hatches are taking place.
09/15/20 The discharges and stream levels are in good shape. We continue to get good reports from customers from all sections of the river.
12/04/20 The tailwater is turning out trout for two of our customers. Fish just below the dam using midges, little BWOs and our sculpin streamers.
12/25/20 The discharges and resulting stream levels are okay in the tailwater and trout are being caught. There is lots of bank ice and snow. Midges and winter stoneflies are hatching good.
01/21/2021 You should be able to catch trout on midges and winter
stoneflies. Fish the water near the dam which is slightly warmer.
02/24/21 We didn’t receive any reports the past two weeks but you should be able to catch trout below the dam. There are still good midge and winter stonefly hatches.
03/18/21 Getting around is often tougher than catching trout. Fish near the dam for the warmest water usually 39 degrees.
05/01/21 Stream levels are fine and the water temperature is 39 degrees just below the dam. You should be able to catch plenty trout on Midges, little BWOs, Skwala stoneflies, Little Black caddis and March Browns.
05/09/21 The discharges are down low and the river level a little lower than normal. We haven’t received any reports from anyone but conditions are good for this time of the year.
05/18/21 Runoff has started. The tailwater is in okay shape right now but don’t expect that for very long. You can catch trout now.
05/26/21 The discharges and stream levels in the tailwater are still fine running a little lower than normal. The freestone section is very high due to runoff.
06/02/21 The freestone section is in runoff. Tailwater discharges are still low enough to fish and we are getting good reports from customers doing so.
06/11/21 The freestone section is back down a lot and the tailwater in good shape at the current time. You should be able to catch trout in the tailwater section.
06/15/21 The tailwater is still in good shape with okay levels.
06/20/21 The freestone section is way down to a near normal level. The tailwater discharges and levels are also good. There are some very good hatches taking place. You should be able to catch some good fish.
07/01/21 Conditions remain good in both sections, the freestone and tailwater. Good hatches and dry fly fishing is good.
07/05/21 We received more good reports from customers fishing the freestone and tailwater sections.
07/19/22 The Ruby is in hoot owl restrictions from the confluence with the Beaverhead River to Duncan District Road crossing. The tailwater is fishing good.
08/28/23 Conditions are still good in the tailwater and the discharges are normal. The freestone is still a little high.
11/19/23 Stream levels are near normal in the freestone section and a little below normal in the tailwater. Good late season hatches are taking place.