Tailwater · Mixed · Montana

Ruby River

River Livet venue image
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The Ruby below the reservoir is a small, intimate, brushy tailwater that grows browns a lot better than its size suggests.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6212% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
21°C
Wind
SW 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1012 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.1 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Montana licence
  • Small, brushy, irrigation-controlled; access is contentious — verify before fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Ruby below the reservoir is a small, intimate, brushy tailwater that grows browns a lot better than its size suggests. It's nearly as famous for its access fights as for its fishing — the public-access question here has been argued in court, so confirm where you can legally stand before you wade in. Flows swing with irrigation demand, which means the river you fished last week may not be the one you find today.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutThird Saturday of May → Last day of February
Other water nearby · 5