Fishes Jefferson River, Ruby River
Tailwater · Southwestern Montana, the tailwater below Ruby Reservoir running north through Alder and Sheridan to the Beaverhead confluence at Twin Bridges · Montana
Ruby River Fishing Guides
A small, rich tailwater below Ruby Reservoir holding an extraordinary density of brown trout.
Gauge location. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Guides on the Ruby River
Claimed profiles take booking requests. Unclaimed profiles are built from public records so the river is never empty; the guide can claim or remove one any time.
About the Ruby River
The Ruby below the reservoir is one of the most productive pieces of trout water in Montana on a per-mile basis, and one of the most contested. It is a small river – narrow, willow-choked, easy to step across in places – flowing through a valley of hayfields and cattle ground between the Ruby and Tobacco Root ranges. The cold, stable release out of Ruby Reservoir combined with a rich alkaline valley produces brown trout in numbers that are hard to credit until you see them.
Brown trout dominate overwhelmingly. Rainbows and mountain whitefish are present, cutthroat drop down from the upper drainage above the reservoir, and brook trout occupy some tributaries. The average fish is modest, but the density is remarkable and the larger browns in the undercut banks are worth the trip on their own.
Access is the defining issue on this river and anglers must take it seriously. Much of the Ruby valley is private, and the question of bridge and streambed access has been litigated in Montana for decades. The state stream access law permits use of the water below the ordinary high-water mark, but reaching that water legally is the hard part. Use the designated fishing access sites and public bridge easements, and do not cross private land without permission.
Flows are governed by irrigation demand and can swing sharply through the summer, dropping to very low levels in dry years. The river fishes well when flows are moderate, and the tight quarters reward short accurate casts, careful wading and terrestrial patterns thrown against the banks from midsummer onward.
Guided trips work the Ruby out of Twin Bridges and Sheridan, and a guide familiar with the legal access points is worth a great deal on this particular river. Anglers unfamiliar with Montana stream access law should read it before arriving rather than sorting it out at a bridge with a landowner watching.
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The photo at the top of this page is not Ruby River.
It is a regional stand-in, honestly captioned but generic — we will not put a name to a river we cannot prove. Send us a photograph you took here and it replaces the stand-in, with your credit on it.
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Access
Ruby Reservoir outlet - the top of the tailwater below the dam.
Alder - the nearest community on the upper tailwater.
Sheridan - a valley town with nearby public access.
Montana fishing access sites - state-designated sites along the valley.
Public bridge easements - legal entry points along the county roads.
Twin Bridges - the Beaverhead confluence at the bottom of the river.
Upper Ruby - the drainage above the reservoir on forest land.
Seasons
Spring: runoff and reservoir operations raise flows; fishing improves as the water settles.
Summer: irrigation withdrawal drops flows sharply, with terrestrial fishing along the banks.
Fall: the best season, with cooler water, restored flows and browns aggressive before spawning.
Winter: cold and low, but the tailwater stays open and midge fishing is possible.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Ruby River?
As of Sep 17, 4:45 am, the USGS gauge Ruby River below reservoir near Alder, MT reads 209 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Ruby River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout on the Ruby River in Montana.
Are there fishing guides on the Ruby River?
GuidedFloats lists 4 guides and outfitters on the Ruby River. Claimed profiles accept booking requests; unclaimed profiles are built from public records and link to the business.
Where can you access the Ruby River?
Ruby Reservoir outlet - the top of the tailwater below the dam. Alder - the nearest community on the upper tailwater. Sheridan - a valley town with nearby public access. Montana fishing access sites - state-designated sites along the valley. Public bridge easements - legal entry points along the county roads. Twin Bridges - the Beaverhead confluence at the bottom of the river. Upper Ruby - the drainage above the reservoir on forest land.
When is the best time to fish the Ruby River?
Spring: runoff and reservoir operations raise flows; fishing improves as the water settles. Summer: irrigation withdrawal drops flows sharply, with terrestrial fishing along the banks. Fall: the best season, with cooler water, restored flows and browns aggressive before spawning. Winter: cold and low, but the tailwater stays open and midge fishing is possible.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Ruby River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Montana agency site: https://fwp.mt.gov/fish/regulations