Ruby River – Vigilante Fishing Access

February 14, 2009 back to Fishing Journal

A mid-winter trip to Twin Bridges and something of a break in the weather provided an opportunity to get away from the grind for a bit of fishing. Valentine’s Day dawned with temperatures well below freezing. Waiting hour by hour through the last day before turning 50, I watched the temperature in Twin Bridges slowly creep up and over 32 deg F before making a break for it up the Ruby River to the open tailwater below Ruby Dam.

Water

The other rivers had lots of ice, but this area of the Ruby below the dam was open, if low. Temperatures barely broke freezing for the few hours before an early February sunset, but it was enough to get out and wet a line.

Fishing

Nymphs and streamers were the call of the day. Line guides iced up off and on as a downstream breeze came and went. Water temperatures couldn’t have been much above freezing, themselves, but the water served to sllloooowly melt off the guides when they were dipped in the river. The fish – assuming there were some in the river – didn’t cooperate to speak of. The one hit I got came as a surprise when I managed to place the hare’s ear just right on the far shore below a rocky bank. The trout swirled, snapped – and I missed it.

Oh, well. It was a beautifully peaceful day. I put away my first half-century under the glory of a winter Big Sky, fishing an unexpected break in the weather. Who woulda thunk a guy could enjoy the pristine blue ribbon waters of southwestern Montana in the middle of February?