Ruby Springs Lodge 

Rockies

How better to complement a river named for a jewel than by building a lodge along its bank that is itself a gem? Ruby Springs Lodge is without question one of the West’s most elegant and understated facilities. Located on five private miles of the Ruby River just outside Alder, Montana, Ruby Springs Lodge offers endless angling options in all directions. Anglers can float the Madison, Jefferson, Beaverhead, and Big Hole rivers as well as walk and wade two intimate spring creeks, the Ruby, and two spring-fed ponds. Guides at the lodge are seasoned, full-time professionals who excel at working with clients of all skill levels.

With six exceedingly tasteful cabins situated mere yards from its namesake river, guests enjoy king or twin beds, fireplaces, open floor plans, bright inviting full baths, and private screened porches. Gourmet breakfasts and elegant dinners accompanied by fine wines are served in the comfort of the modern, yet rustic main lodge. Arguably, the only thing more beautiful than the facility is all that surrounds it.

Activities for non-anglers include skeet shooting at the lodge’s private range, guided horseback rides, naturalist guided hiking trips, golf, and sightseeing in the nearby historic towns of Nevada City and Bannack. For those who feel there is no need to sacrifice the good life for good fishing, Ruby Springs will surpass your expectations!

Location:
Ruby Springs Lodge is located on the banks of the Ruby River near Twin Bridges, Montana.

Fishing Program:
Ruby Springs Lodge is located on 3500 acres just outside of Alder Montana and offers their guests exclusive access to 12 ½ miles of private water on the Ruby river. The Ruby is considered by many to be one of the best small water trout fisheries in the state of Montana. You will have access to the more technical section of the river right outside your cabin as well as a more forgiving section downstream. In addition, Ruby Springs Lodge fly fishes some of the greatest rivers of the West including the Madison, Big Hole, Beaverhead, and the Jefferson. With the exception of the Ruby, you will access the rivers via drift boat.

Fisheries:
Ruby: Within five minutes from the lodge, we have over ten miles of private access to the Ruby River and its tributaries. Upstream from the lodge is our Canyon property, which boasts 2,200 fish per mile—the highest population on the entire river. The section is popular with beginning and intermediate anglers. Another angling option is the “home water” of the lodge, which runs right past the cabins. Because of the smaller river channel, the fishing here can be
challenging, but very satisfying for more advanced anglers. On both sections, there are good hatches of pale morning duns in June and July, caddis and terrific hopper fishing throughout the summer, and Baetis (blue-wing olive) hatches in the fall.

Big Hole: If you dreamed up a trout river, it might look like the Big Hole. Towering cliffs in places, quiet meadow stretches, wildlife, and lots of feisty trout. Probably the most exciting dry fly fishing for trout anywhere is found on this river in June, with the emergence of the giant stonefly (Salmonfly). This is a great time to fish this river, but the dry fly fishing continues into the summer with Caddis, Tricos, and hoppers too. Streamer fishing in both the spring and fall can be excellent as well.

Beaverhead: The stats speak for themselves: average fish, 16”; 3,800 fish per mile; one fish of 4 pounds or better every twenty feet of bank. The Beaverhead is the best trophy trout river in the region—and possibly beyond. It’s surprisingly small, but deep, fast, and full of big fish. Small nymphs always work well on this river, catching amazingly big fish for such small food. June and July provide good dry fly fishing with caddis and pale morning duns, as well as the famous crane fly in August. Blue wing olives hatch in the fall, and the streamer fishing at this time can be frightening.

Madison: The Madison is the most consistently productive river that we fish. There are great hatches of salmonflies, caddis, and mayflies, and you can catch fish on dries, wets, streamers—its trout are usually happily eating something. It’s a gorgeous river, with rainbows, browns, the occasional brook trout, and even the rare grayling too. Being ½ hour from the lodge, and in a beautiful and scenic valley, it’s one of our most popular fisheries.

Jefferson: During the spring and fall, this unheralded river can produce some wonderful fishing, not to mention solitude, wildlife, and beauty. The streamer fishing can be red hot, and there’s even dry fly fishing at certain times of year. It may not get much press, but we know when to fish the Jeff and we know the size of the browns that lurk beneath its surface.

Private Waters: If you’d like to fish one of a variety of nearby private waters, such as Clear Creek or other small streams, we can arrange for trips with advance notice (and in some cases, rod fees). There are also two spring-fed ponds on premises for casting practice or instruction.

Non-Angling Activities:
Guided horseback rides into the pristine Ruby Mountains
Golf at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Old Works Golf Course
Naturalist-guided hiking trips on miles of wilderness trails
Sightseeing and photography trips to Virginia City, Big Hole Battlefield Bannack (Montana’s first territorial capital).
Professional massages are available in your cabin for an additional charge.

Accommodations and Meals:
The main lodge has a beautiful stone fireplace, elegant woodwork, a screened-in cigar porch and is decorated in a tasteful modern rustic style. Each of the seven private cabins is set a few yards from the meandering Ruby River. Cabin amenities include optional king or twin beds facing a fireplace within a large, open floor plan, a fully stocked refrigerator, a bright and inviting full bath, oversized tubs and heated tile floors, private deck, and a screened porch.
Each evening of your stay begins with a cocktail and appetizer hour in the River Room at the lodge. Following cocktail hour, guests are treated to a gourmet dinner complete with an appropriate wine selection from their cellar. Each morning, they personally deliver a wake-up basket filled with coffee, tea, or juice. When you are ready to greet the day, stroll down the boardwalk to enjoy a hearty, cooked-to-order Montana breakfast. For lunch, you will either experience a delicious streamside picnic on one of the nearby blue-ribbon float trip fisheries—or you will enjoy a day wading their private water, taking a break back at the lodge for an expertly-prepared patio lunch.

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Ruby Springs Lodge.
Days 2-5: Full days of guided fishing.
Day 6: Depart lodge.

Complete Trip Details