Early Fall Fly Fishing on the Ruby River, MT

In Southwestern Montana it seems that summer has passed just as quickly as it arrived. The trees are turning orange and yellow, the temperature is dropping, and sometimes we wake up to fresh snow on the mountains. Gone are the days of 9:30 sunsets, dry heat, and air conditioning. Gone also are the epic hatches and topwater fishing that make Montana's rivers so famous in the summer months. To some, this may sound depressing, but the onset of fall brings with it some pretty amazing fly fishing to those who are willing to adapt.

Alina and I have spending most of our time lately on the Ruby River not far from where we live, and I must say that it has not been a disappointment. The water temperature has cooled down substantially with cooler nights and a few good rains. With temps down, the fish are moving back into the riffles and closer to the banks, making them more accessible to streamer and terrestrial fishing. With the decreased hatch activity, it seems that many of the fish are also becoming more aggressive feeders if the fly meets their fancy. 

Perhaps the biggest factors on the Ruby at the moment are flows and visibility. Even though irrigation season is coming to an end, there are still daily fluctuations due to adding/removing water for irrigation. Like any tailwater, if the flows change then the fish become more finicky. The same can be said for visibility even though the Ruby is never 100% gin-clear. All of the best fishing I've had has been on days when the water has had a chance to clear of sediment and debris. 

With that said, the best fishing on the Ruby is more than likely occurring in the morning hours. I've had tremendous mid to late morning fishing with streamers and nymphs. Some of the best patterns are going to be smaller (14-18) sized prince nymphs, copper johns, pheasant tails, and soft hackles, as well as bigger minnow and sculpin patterns. In most cases, I will tie the nymph onto the eye of my streamer as a dropper, and usually fish take the beadhead when I'm stripping it through a riffle. 

If the sun is out and the water is clear, don't shy away from fishing terrestrials such as ant, beetle, or hopper patterns. If you do put one of these on, be sure to fish grassy/undercut banks, pocket water, and all of the little nooks and crannies where big fish like to hide. I can't imagine that the terrestrial fishing will keep up for much longer, so get out there while it lasts. 

Early fall is a great time of year for fly fishing. You are going to find hungrier fish, less fishermen, and stunning scenery. Its also a great opportunity to think a little outside of the box by trying different flies and new techniques, so get out there and give it a shot. 

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