Ruby Mountains / Lamoille Creek
The streams of the Ruby Mountains offer high-alpine fly fishing for brook, rainbow, and Lahontan cutthroat trout in one of Nevada's most spectacular mountain ranges. Lamoille Creek and other Ruby tributaries flow through glaciated canyons, alpine lakes, and wildflower meadows, providing classic backcountry trout fishing in the 'Swiss Alps of Nevada.'
Overview
The Ruby Mountains rise dramatically from the high desert of northeastern Nevada, a 90-mile range of peaks exceeding 11,000 feet with glaciated U-shaped canyons, alpine lakes, and clear mountain streams. Often called the "Swiss Alps of Nevada," the Rubies support surprisingly productive trout fisheries in their numerous creeks and high-mountain lakes.
Lamoille Creek is the most accessible and popular stream, flowing from Lamoille Canyon down to the town of Lamoille. The creek is small but scenic, flowing through a spectacular glaciated canyon with towering cliffs and alpine scenery. The Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail provides access to remote high-country lakes and streams, including Overland Creek, Griswold Creek, and dozens of alpine lakes holding brook trout and Lahontan cutthroat.
Fish populations consist primarily of brook trout (the dominant species in most waters), rainbow trout, and native Lahontan cutthroat trout in select waters. Fish are typically small (6-10 inches) but willing and numerous. The high-alpine setting and the chance to catch native Lahontan cutthroat make this a special destination for wilderness-minded anglers.
Access ranges from roadside fishing along Lamoille Creek to multi-day backpacking trips into the high country. The Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway provides vehicle access into the heart of the range during summer months, and numerous trailheads serve as departure points for wilderness exploration.
Water Characteristics
The Ruby Mountains streams are pristine alpine waters with excellent clarity and cold temperatures. Water clarity is typically 4-8 feet of visibility. Water temperatures remain cold year-round, typically 40-55 degrees F even in late summer, ideal for brook trout and cutthroat.
The substrate is predominantly boulders and cobble with limited spawning gravel. The insect community includes caddis, stoneflies, small mayflies, and terrestrial insects in the lower elevations. Alpine lakes have sparse insect life but support populations of brook trout feeding on zooplankton and emerging insects.
The glaciated canyon scenery is spectacular, with towering granite cliffs, wildflower meadows, and alpine lakes nestled in cirques. The wilderness setting is a primary attraction alongside the fishing.
Wading & Float Guide
The streams of the Ruby Mountains are small and easily waded. Lamoille Creek ranges from 5-15 feet wide with a boulder-and-cobble bottom. Water depths are typically ankle to knee-deep, with occasional waist-deep plunge pools. The gradient is steep in the upper canyon, creating cascades and pocket water.
Wading is straightforward, though the boulder-strewn bottom can be slippery. Felt-soled or studded boots provide good traction. Much of the fishing involves working upstream through pocket water and small pools, hopping from rock to rock along the margins.
High-alpine lakes in the wilderness are accessed by hiking; wading is minimal, and most lake fishing is done from the shoreline. Hip waders or wet-wading (in summer) are sufficient for the small streams. Be prepared for cold water even in summer; these are snowmelt-fed streams.
Not a float fishery
The Ruby Mountains streams are far too small for floating. This is a small-stream and alpine lake fishery accessed by hiking. Bring a backpack and lightweight fishing gear.
Rod & Tackle Guide
Lamoille Creek and Ruby streams
- Rod
- 7'6" to 8'6" 3-weight or 4-weight
- Line
- Weight-forward floating
- Leader & Tippet
- 7.5-9' tapered to 4X or 5X
Short, light rod ideal for small-stream pocket water and brushy conditions. Keep tackle minimal for backpacking. One small box of attractor dries and nymphs is sufficient.
Alpine lakes (backpacking)
- Rod
- 8' 4-weight
- Line
- Weight-forward floating
- Leader & Tippet
- 9' tapered to 4X or 5X
Slightly longer rod for casting from shorelines. Bring small flies (sizes 14-18) for selective lake fish. Lightweight backpacking rod ideal.
Seasonal Fishing Guide
Summer
July and August are prime season in the Ruby Mountains. Snowmelt subsides by early July, and the Lamoille Canyon Road is fully open. The high-country lakes and streams are accessible for backpacking trips. Fish attractor dry flies (Royal Wulffs, Humpies, Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 12-16) and simple nymph rigs in the pocket water. Brook trout are aggressive and willing. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent; bring rain gear and plan to fish mornings.
Fall
September offers excellent conditions with stable weather, fall colors, and aggressive pre-spawn brook trout. The high country begins to cool, and aspens turn golden in the canyons. The Lamoille Canyon Road typically remains open through September. This is prime time for solitude; the summer crowds are gone. Be prepared for cold nights and potential snow at higher elevations by late September.
Fishing Pressure & Local Tips
Lamoille Creek along the scenic byway receives moderate pressure during summer weekends from day-use visitors. However, walking even a short distance upstream from the road reveals less-pressured water. The high-country lakes and streams accessed by backpacking receive very light pressure; you may have entire drainages to yourself.
Weekday fishing and early-season or late-season trips (late June, September) offer the best combination of good conditions and minimal crowds.
Local Knowledge
The Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 660) is the gateway to the Ruby Mountains. The paved road climbs 12 miles into Lamoille Canyon, providing stunning scenery and access to numerous trailheads. The road is closed in winter (typically November through May) due to snow.
For day trips, fish Lamoille Creek from pulloffs along the scenic byway. For backpacking trips, the Ruby Crest Trail and other wilderness trails access remote lakes and streams. Bring a map and be prepared for wilderness conditions. The town of Elko (40 miles away) has fly shops, lodging, and supplies. Camping is available at Thomas Canyon Campground and dispersed camping in National Forest areas.
Species Present
Brook Trout
The brook trout is widely considered the most beautiful freshwater fish in North America, and catching one in a pristine Montana mountain stream is an experience that captures the essence of backcountry fly fishing. Despite their common name, brook trout are not true trout at all; they are a species of char (genus Salvelinus), more closely related to lake trout and Arctic char than to rainbows or browns. Native to eastern North America from Georgia to Hudson Bay, brook trout were among the first salmonids introduced to Montana's waters in the late 1800s and have since established self-sustaining populations in cold, high-elevation streams and lakes throughout the state. In Montana, brook trout thrive best in small, cold headwater streams and high mountain lakes where competition from larger trout species is minimal. In these environments, they are often the dominant, or only, salmonid present. The trade-off is size: Montana stream-dwelling brook trout typically range from 6 to 10 inches, with fish over 12 inches considered noteworthy in most waters. What they lack in size, however, they more than make up for in beauty and willingness to eat a fly. Brookies are aggressive feeders that will strike attractor dry flies, nymphs, and small streamers with enthusiasm, making them an ideal species for beginning fly anglers and a delightful quarry for anyone who appreciates small-stream fishing. Brook trout do present a conservation paradox in Montana. While they are a beloved and beautiful gamefish, they are non-native and can negatively impact native species, particularly Yellowstone and westslope cutthroat trout. In headwater streams, brook trout often outcompete cutthroats for food and spawning habitat due to their higher reproductive rate and earlier maturation. As a result, Montana FWP has implemented brook trout removal projects on some streams to restore native cutthroat populations. In many waters, liberal harvest limits for brook trout are encouraged to reduce their numbers and benefit native fish. Anglers can enjoy excellent brook trout fishing while actively helping conservation by keeping a few for the pan.
Rainbow Trout
The rainbow trout is Montana's most widespread and popular gamefish, celebrated for its explosive surface strikes, aerial acrobatics, and willingness to take a well-presented dry fly. Native to Pacific Coast drainages from Alaska to Mexico, rainbows were first introduced to Montana's waters in the late 1800s and have since established thriving populations in nearly every major river system in the state. On legendary waters like the Madison, Missouri, and Bighorn, wild rainbow trout grow fat on prolific insect hatches and provide some of the finest dry-fly fishing in North America. Rainbow trout in Montana display remarkable variation depending on their home water. Fish in nutrient-rich tailwaters like the Missouri River below Holter Dam can exceed 20 inches with regularity, their deep bodies and broad tails reflecting the abundant food supply. Freestone river rainbows, such as those in the upper Madison and Gallatin, tend to be leaner and more athletic, shaped by faster currents and colder water temperatures. In many Montana rivers, rainbows spawn in the spring from March through June, and anglers should be mindful of spawning redds during this period to protect future generations of fish. Rainbows are arguably the most versatile trout species for fly anglers. They respond well to dry flies during hatches, aggressively chase streamers, and feed heavily on nymphs subsurface throughout the year. Their fighting ability is legendary: a hooked rainbow will often launch itself completely out of the water multiple times during a battle. Montana's catch-and-release regulations on many blue-ribbon streams have produced exceptional rainbow trout fisheries with high densities of large, healthy fish that continue to draw anglers from around the world.
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
The Lahontan cutthroat trout is the largest subspecies of cutthroat trout in the world and the only trout native to the hydrographic Great Basin of Nevada, California, and Oregon. Named for the ancient Lake Lahontan that once covered much of northern Nevada during the Pleistocene, this remarkable fish evolved to thrive in the alkaline, desert-lake environments of the Great Basin, a trait that sets it apart from all other cutthroat subspecies. Lahontan cutthroats historically reached enormous sizes in the terminal lakes of the region: the 41-pound fish taken from Pyramid Lake in 1925 remains one of the largest cutthroat trout ever documented. The modern story of the Lahontan cutthroat is one of dramatic decline and ongoing recovery. Dam construction, water diversions, overfishing, and the introduction of non-native trout devastated Lahontan cutthroat populations throughout the 20th century, and the subspecies was listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. The most famous population, at Pyramid Lake on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation in Nevada, was extirpated entirely by the 1940s when Truckee River diversions destroyed the spawning habitat. The fish that swim in Pyramid Lake today descend from the Pilot Peak strain, a remnant population discovered in a tiny creek on the Nevada-Utah border, which was used to restock the lake beginning in 2006. For fly anglers, the Lahontan cutthroat represents one of the most exciting trophy trout opportunities in the American West. Pyramid Lake has become a world-class destination fishery, producing cutthroats that routinely exceed 20 inches and 5 pounds, with fish over 10 pounds caught regularly and specimens exceeding 20 pounds taken each season. The Truckee River system in California and Nevada also supports Lahontan cutthroat populations, and restoration efforts continue to expand the subspecies' range. Catching a Lahontan cutthroat connects an angler to the deep geological and cultural history of the Great Basin.
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Suggested Fly | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caddisflies (various) evening | Elk Hair Caddis | ||||||||||||
Golden Stonefly all day | Stimulator | ||||||||||||
Terrestrials (hoppers, ants) afternoon | Chubby Chernobyl | ||||||||||||
Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) afternoon | Parachute Adams |
Caddisflies (various): Primary hatch in Ruby streams. Size 14-16.
Golden Stonefly: Golden stones in Lamoille Canyon. Size 10-12.
Terrestrials (hoppers, ants): Attractor dry flies effective. Size 12-16.
Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis): Alpine mayflies. Size 16-18.
Recommended Flies
Access Points & Boat Launches
Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway Pulloffs
Wade AccessEasyMultiple pulloffs along the Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 660) provide easy access to Lamoille Creek. The paved road climbs 12 miles into the heart of the Ruby Mountains, paralleling the creek. Excellent roadside fishing for brook trout. The byway is closed in winter (typically November through May).
Ruby Crest Trail / Lamoille Lake Trailhead
Wade AccessModerate to Difficult (hiking required)Trailhead at the end of Lamoille Canyon Road provides access to the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail and high-alpine lakes (Lamoille Lake, Liberty Lake). Backpacking required for lake fishing. Brook and Lahontan cutthroat in alpine lakes. Stunning scenery at 10,000+ feet elevation.
Regulations
Regulations
Ruby Mountains streams and lakes: Generally standard Nevada regulations apply (2 trout bag limit, barbless hooks recommended). Some waters may have special regulations protecting Lahontan cutthroat; verify at ndow.org. Nevada fishing license required. Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Ruby Mountains Wilderness regulations apply. Wilderness permits may be required for overnight camping. Practical season: Late June through September due to snow at high elevations.
Always verify current regulations with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before fishing.
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Quick Facts
- Region
- Northern Nevada / Elko County / Ruby Mountains
- Water Type
- Freestone/Alpine
- River Length
- Multiple small streams; Lamoille Creek ~15 miles fishable
- Difficulty
- Beginner-Intermediate
- Best Seasons
- summer, fall
- Trout Per Mile
- Variable; small-stream fishery with willing fish in pocket water
- Record Trout
- Brook trout to 12 inches; Lahontan cutthroat to 14 inches in alpine lakes
- Species
- Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Nearby Rivers
Truckee River
Western Nevada / Washoe County
Pyramid Lake
Western Nevada / Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation
East Walker River
Western Nevada / Lyon County
East Fork Carson River
Western Nevada / Douglas County
Jarbidge River
Northern Nevada / Elko County / Jarbidge Wilderness
Bruneau River
Northern Nevada / Elko County
South Fork Reservoir
Northern Nevada / Elko County
Great Basin NP Streams
Eastern Nevada / White Pine County / Great Basin National Park
Wild Horse Reservoir
Northern Nevada / Elko County