Ruby River
river in Montana
The Ruby River is a hidden gem, particularly in its upper reaches and below Ruby Dam. It's a smaller river that can be challenging to access but holds impressive numbers of brown trout, with some rainbows, offering excellent wade fishing opportunities.
River flow last 30 days
Blue Winged Olives (BWOs) are actively hatching
- 01Blue Winged Olives (BWOs) are actively hatching, ranging from size 16 to 22, with strongest emergences mid-morning to early afternoon, especially on overcast days.
- 02October Caddis are a significant, larger insect hatch beginning to influence feeding patterns.
- 03Terrestrial fishing remains viable in early fall, particularly with larger foam patterns.
- 04Subsurface nymphs and streamers are consistent producers for trout keying on a variety of forage.
- 05Stealthy approaches are key due to clear water conditions.
Past reports week by week
6 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Comparadun
Fall BWO hatches (size 16-22) are explicitly expected mid-September into October on the Ruby River, and this pattern is excellent for selective trout on adults.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis (Dry)
Regional reports confirm October Caddis are becoming a factor in fall, and the Ruby River is known for prolific hatches.
Buy at AmazonTravis Hi-Vis BWO Para Emerger
BWO emergers are crucial during fall hatches, especially when fish are keying on insects struggling in the film.
Mahogany Dun
Regional reports mention Mahogany Dun patterns beginning to appear in fall, offering additional dry fly opportunities.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
Given the Ruby River's tailwater influence, midges are a consistent food source year-round, and this weighted pattern is excellent for subsurface feeding as other hatches wane.
Buy at AmazonChernobyl Ant
Regional reports indicate terrestrials are still active in mid-September, and larger foam patterns like the Chernobyl Ant can draw aggressive strikes as an attractor.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile streamer, effective for imitating leeches and baitfish, and productive when slow stripping dark streamers is recommended in fall/winter conditions.
Baby Brown Trout (Streamer)
Fall is an excellent time for aggressive brown trout, and this streamer effectively imitates their juvenile prey.
Where to fish and who to ask
Alder Bridge
Public access point for wade fishing, known for brown trout.
Anderson Lane
Another key access for wade anglers seeking selective browns.
Ruby Dam
The tailwater below the dam offers consistent flows and good fishing.
Fly shops within 40 miles
The Tackle Shop
The Tackle Shop Outfitters
Get Ruby River reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Montana season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Felt vs. Rubber Sole Wading Boots: What's Legal Where
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Quick answers
Common questions about Ruby River.
What flies work best on Ruby River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Ruby River right now are Pale Morning Dun Sparkle Dun (100% confidence), San Juan Worm (100% confidence), Yellow Sally (95% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Ruby River?
Ruby River holds Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Ruby River?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Ruby River are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Ruby River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Ruby River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.