FISH IT

Fishing Adventures in the Ruby Valley

The Ruby River is one of the best wild trout rivers for Montana Fly Fishing and we provide our guests the exclusive opportunity to fish trout-filled waters here at the ranch and experience a number of different rivers and streams. We have access to more waters to fish then you have time to fish them. Along with private ranches we lease for fishing, the Beaverhead National Forest is just outside our backdoor, you can spend your days fly fishing the Ruby or exploring the many smaller tributary streams that run through the mountains and valleys. You can also introduce family and friends to fly fishing and practice your casting on our private spring-fed pond.

Our full-time fly-fishing guides are available at the ranch for instruction, float trips, walk/wade trips, and adventures into our numerous mountain spring creeks. Our guides have a passion for fishing and teaching. Taking you out fly fishing is only the beginning, we love to teach, be it the beginner to the seasoned fisherman our guides will help you with a number of techniques and strategies.
For those who prefer to go unguided, you’ll find them happy to help with hatch information, directions, access points, and stream reports to ensure you have a great day on the water.

Reserve Now

From the Ruby River to Your Net and Back

Here at Upper Canyon Outfitters, we cater to each guest’s individual needs and would be happy to assist you in planning your Montana vacation. We offer several specially-priced packages, as well as our Build Your Own Adventure option that’s a perfect choice for the self-explorer.

At Upper Canyon Outfitters, we understand the importance of protecting our natural resources and doing all we can to ensure they endure for generations to come. That’s why our ranch and guides are proud to support and practice catch and release fishing – so that your great catch of today can become someone’s catch of a lifetime tomorrow.

THE RIVERS

Ruby

On the Upper Ruby, you will find rainbows, browns, cutthroats, cutbows, brook trout, and grayling. It’s a dry fly fishing-oriented fishery, where you will find yourself mainly using dry dropper and single dry fly rigs. The Upper Ruby can give you amazing numbers where the average size fish ranges between 8” and 12”, but with the opportunity of finding the outlier 15” to 20” brown trout.

The Ruby then becomes a tailwater below Ruby Dam. “The Lower Ruby” provides excellent brown trout fishing, but also good chances of catching Rainbow trout and Mountain Whitefish. The average size fish on the lower Ruby is 15” to 18”, but with good chances of catching fish up to 19” and 20”. 

There are a few tributaries that dump into the Ruby River, classic small water technical fishing. You may be introduced to different dry fly tactics that our guides use to find fish in those tricky undercut banks, against logs, and underneath trees. Catch all seven species that we have in the Ruby Valley, and you will get yourself the Ruby Grand Slam!

Beaverhead Poindexter Slough

An offshoot of the Beaverhead River, this will have you thinking you are fishing a spring creek. This walk/wade fishery offers a good chance of catching gorgeous Beaverhead browns, with beautiful weed beds and deep pools. Also, it offers windows of dry fly fishing. The name of the Beaverhead originates from Beaverhead Rock on the middle river. This rock formation was recognized by Sacajawea when the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed the area in 1805. Pointdexster Slough is 1 ½ hours from UCO.

Jefferson

Known for quality brown trout vs numbers, the best time to fish the Jefferson is early and late season (June, September) when temperatures are moderate to cold. This river offers the best chances for trophy browns, and while not easy to catch, chances are always there! The Jefferson also offers good streamer fishing. It retains much of its scenic beauty and wildlife diversity from the days of Lewis and Clark, from broad valleys to a narrow canyon, and it passes through a region of significant geological diversity. The Jefferson is an hour from UCO. (Floats Only)

Madison

A fly fishing mecca. It is classified as a blue ribbon fishery in Montana and is one of the most productive streams in Montana for brown trout, rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish. Famous for its Salmon Fly hatch. The Madison is an hour from UCO.

Big Hole

A destination for serious trout fisherman since the late 1880s. The Big Hole is known for its high numbers of wild and large rainbow and brown trout and excellent brook trout fishing. The Big Hole is 2 hours from UCO.
UCO will help anglers arrange an outside guide services for the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers.

PRICING

ALL-INCLUSIVE LODGING, MEALS AND FLY FISHING

Includes four guided fly fishing trips, two private property rod fees, and the option to upgrade a walk/wade trip into a float trip.

Each day, you will experience a true western fly-fishing adventure on the famous Ruby River! You will fish several different types of water on the Ruby and its tributary streams; you may run out of time, but not water to fish! Private water rod fees are extra.

Additional fishing may be available on Friday after checking out. Please contact us for availability and price.

Double Occupancy

4 Days / 5 Nights
$4,220 / person

Single Occupancy, One-on-One

4 Days / 5 Nights
$5,040 / person

On top of offering total packages for trips at UCO, we also offer a Build Your Own Experience option. This gives you the freedom to plan what you want to do and when you want to do it.

Build Your Experience

WHAT TO PACK AND BRING WITH YOU

3-,4- or 5- weight rod for small streams
6- weight rod for larger rivers
Weight forward floating lines work best
4x, 5x and 6x tapered leaders 8-11
A good single-action reel with backing
Chest waders and wading boots (UCO has a wide variety of sizes of boots and waders for you to rent at our store). No rental fee on guided trips.
Polarized sunglasses
Sunscreen and bug repellent
Rain jacket
Warm sweater or fleece jacket
Waterproof camera
Your sense of adventure
CLICK HERE FOR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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