Ruby Springs Lodge

Accommodations

Cabins

Season

April-October

Species

Rainbow, Cutthroat & Brown Trout

Ideal for

All Anglers

Conservation

YDCCF Matching Funds

Luxury Accommodations on the Ruby River

Ruby Springs Lodge has a well-earned reputation for being one of the best-run, most exceptional fishing lodges in the entire Western United States. High-end and incredibly nice in every detail, this operation consists of two main lodge buildings and a number of private cabins built directly on the banks of Southwest Montana’s Ruby River. The cabins are truly magnificent and the amenities and setting will satisfy even the most discriminating guests. The numerous meandering miles of the Ruby River and Clear Creek – the lodge’s “home waters” – provides guests access to a private and intimate fishery that is unpressured and loaded with fish. Fish the lodge’s home waters and then spend a day or two floating a few of Montana’s famed rivers, all located within a close and easy drive from the Lodge. A Ruby River fly fishing experience should be on every trout angler’s fly fishing bucket list.

Lodging Details
The main lodge consists of two main buildings that are adjacent to the private cabins built along the Ruby River. The River House is the social center of the Lodge, and the place for post-fishing cocktails, after-dinner relaxing, and evening poker. There is also a private, screened-in dining room for small groups that desire seclusion. The River House is well-appointed with a full complimentary bar, large flat screen TV, poker table, fly tying bench, and sitting area with a grand rock fireplace. The adjacent building houses the main dining room and fly shop. The dining area consists of three main tables, a large wine selection, and views of the large lawn that cascades to the Ruby River below. The fly shop and front desk area are stocked with clothing, tackle, flies, and Montana gifts. This is where you may find the staff to arrange for non-angling activities or a massage.

Riverside Cabins
There are five riverside cabins, each with a river rock fireplace, oversized tub and shower, heated tile floors, screened porch, fully-stocked refrigerator, Wi-Fi access, and your choice of king or two twin beds.

Tobacco Root Cabin
For guests who prefer more room, this riverside cabin features a master bedroom with your choice of king or two twin beds, two full baths, a living room, an outdoor shower overlooking the Ruby, a river rock fireplace, wet bar, Wi-Fi access, and screened porch.

Discovery Cabin
Measuring 1,500 square feet, this is the lodge’s largest cabin that can comfortably accommodate four guests. The cabin also has a living room, river rock fireplace, plasma TV, full wet bar, Wi-Fi access, and an outdoor fireplace built on the banks of the Ruby River.

Food and Beverages
Each morning, you’ll be awakened at whatever time you choose with a knock on your cabin door and a delivery of coffee, tea, and juice. The breakfast menu offers classics like eggs benedict and steel-cut oatmeal, as well as unique Lodge specialties. Lunch is served streamside by your guide, with house-made soups, hearty sandwiches, salads, and a cooler full of drinks. Your evening dining experience at Ruby Springs begins with cocktails in the River Room, where you can enjoy a full bar while watching trout rise in the Lodge’s home pool. The dinner menu will tempt you with a range of inspired choices, from fresh fish and vegetarian dishes to steaks and chops — many of which feature local and organic ingredients. In the evenings, guests typically dine together, sharing stories and getting to know each other over wines specially paired with the menu.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
For those who don’t want to fish during their entire stay at Ruby Springs, there are numerous non-angling activities available. Guided horseback rides into the pristine Ruby Mountains or golf at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda, Montana are wonderful options. Naturalist-guided hiking trips can be arranged on miles of wilderness trails and there are sightseeing and photography trips to historic Virginia City, the Big Hole Battlefield, or Montana’s first territorial capital, Bannack.

Internet / Communications
Wi-Fi is available free of charge and cell phones will work in this part of Montana.

How To Get There
The nearest commercial airport is Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), located in Bozeman, Montana. Serviced by Delta, Northwest, United, Frontier, and Horizon Airlines, the airport is approximately 1.5 hours from Ruby Springs Lodge and the town of Alder.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
If you would like to drive directly to Alder on your own or rent a car in Bozeman, a map will be sent to you prior to your departure. A pre-arranged shuttle service between Bozeman and Ruby Springs Lodge is also available for an additional charge. Please contact Yellow Dog for details.

Documents Required
Montana fishing licenses are available at all area fly shops and sporting goods stores, or online by visiting the following website: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. You will need to present a valid driver’s license in order to purchase your fishing license.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
The numerous meandering miles of the Ruby River and Clear Creek – the Lodge’s “home waters” – give guests access to a private and intimate fishery that is unpressured and loaded with fish. Fish the Lodge’s home waters and then spend a day or two floating a few of Montana’s most famous rivers: all a close and easy drive from the Lodge. The Ruby Springs guide staff are all full-time, salaried guides, and together encompass one of the finest crews found anywhere in Montana.

Ruby River
The Lodge has access to over ten miles of private water on the Ruby River, a fishery that is hands down one of Montana’s finest small streams. Downstream from the Lodge is the private Anderson Ranch, which boasts 2,200 fish per mile and the highest population on the entire Ruby. The section is very popular with anglers of all levels and is typically a dry fly angler’s paradise. Upstream you’ll find the “home water” of the Lodge, which runs directly past the cabins. Most days it is possible to catch a rising fish from your private deck.

Big Hole River
This is one of Yellow Dog’s favorite Western rivers. Towering cliffs, quiet meadow stretches, wildlife, and lots of feisty trout make for both productive fishing and incredible scenic views. Probably the most exciting dry fly fishing for trout anywhere is found on this river in June and early July with the emergence of the giant stoneflies (salmon flies). Streamer fishing in both the spring and fall can be excellent as well.

Beaverhead River
The stats speak for themselves: average fish size is 16 inches, 3,800 fish per mile, and one fish of four pounds (or better) every 20 feet of the 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. June and July can provide good dry fly fishing with caddis, yellow sallies, and pale morning duns, as well as the famous crane fly during early August mornings. The streamer fishing in the fall can be outstanding.

Madison River
The Madison is the most consistently productive river in the area. There are great hatches of salmonflies, caddis, and mayflies, and it’s not uncommon to catch fish on dries, nymphs, and streamers all in the same day. It’s a gorgeous river, full of rainbows and browns. Being just 30 minutes from the Lodge, it’s one of Ruby Springs’ most popular fisheries.

Jefferson River
During the spring and fall, this “sleeper” river can produce some wonderful fishing, not to mention solitude, wildlife, and beauty. The streamer fishing can be red hot, and there’s solid dry fly fishing at certain times of the year. It may not get much press, but the Jeff is a local’s favorite, mainly due to 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, the Lodge can easily arrange this. There are also two spring-fed ponds on the lodge grounds for casting practice or instruction.

Boats and Equipment
Float fishing on area rivers is done via McKenzie-style drift boats and skiffs designed for fly fishing. The Lodge has a fully-stocked fly shop, and plenty of rental and demo gear available, including rods, reels, waders, and boots

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge.

2023 Pricing (based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted)
Riverside Cabins
3 nights / 2 days = $3,900.00 per person
4 nights / 3 days = $5,200.00 per person

Tobacco Root Cabin
3 nights / 2 days = $4,050.00 per person
4 nights / 3 days = $5,400.00 per person

Discovery Cabin (based on 4 anglers)
3 nights / 2 days = $4,200.00 per person
4 nights / 3 days = $5,600.00 per person

What’s Included:

Lodging
Guided fishing
All meals
All house alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages at the lodge
Rods/reels, flies, and tackle provided by the guide
Waders and wading boots
Guide pick up & drop off on each day of fishing
River shuttle fees for guide’s vehicle

What’s Not Included:

Airfare
Airport transportation (can be arranged at an additional cost)
Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
Fishing licenses
Massages, horseback rides, and other onsite or off-site activities (additional fees)
Lodging taxes (will be added to invoice upon booking)

Ruby Springs Lodge (Alder, Montana)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all trip packages and reservations, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. All trip cancellations must be received in writing, sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, LLC. For all cancellations outside of 90 days of scheduled arrival date, a full refund or a trip credit (minus a $100.00 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee) will be issued. For cancellations inside of 90 days, deposits and final payments will be forfeited, and no refund or credit will be issued unless the cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures. If the package (for the same dates) is resold, then a full refund will be sent minus a $100.00 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee. In the case of cancellation by the client, both deposit and final payment may be transferred to another guest or angler for those same (original) dates if facilitated and arranged by the client. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for this trip.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YELLOW DOG GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES

Payment Terms For All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings
In order to lock in your trip reservation, we ask that you please remit payment at the time of receipt of invoice. For your convenience, Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a direct and secure ACH platform – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Note that all Yellow Dog invoices include a live link that takes you directly to the Yellow Dog ACH platform for fast and easy payment. For open and existing invoices with a remaining balance, payment reminders also include this easy link to the ACH page.

Other customary forms of payment that are accepted are checks or wire transfers. If you would like to pay in a different way or have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (888) 777-5060 or (406) 585-8667. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Beginning September 1st, 2020, Yellow Dog will apply a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions.

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Standard Forms For Payment

ACH online payments (for US banking institutions only).
Traditional checks (sent via mail)
Electronic wire payments (client is responsible for any wiring fees)

*Please contact us if you prefer or require a different payment option. Convenience fees may apply for other payment methods.

**Please be aware that the ACH platform is only available for US financial institutions and bank accounts. International payments can be made via wire or with a credit card.

“The single best trip I have done.” – Mark C.
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“Fantastic! Really special. Beautiful scenery, fabulous fishing, a whole variety of experiences. The lodge itself is superb, with great food and a fun atmosphere. I made some friends I’m sure will become fishing buddies going forward.” – Ira C.