The Lodge is located in southwest Montana in Montana’s Ruby Valley to some of the planet’s great trout streams. We provide a beautiful setting, great food, fantastic accommodations so we can get you casting a fly rod and setting a hook on the rivers and streams that dreams are made.
Big Hole River: The Big Hole River flows for 153 miles through a fly fishing wonderland filled with Brook, Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat trout. The Big Hole is the last remaining habitat for fluvial Arctic Grayling in the continuous United States. Sliding along the Pioneer Mountains, the Big Hole becomes world class for pocket water as the river gains momentum slicing into the Canyon section. One of the most quintessential pieces of landscape in the American West is the “Notch”. This is where the Big Hole carves a groove through two pillars of rock. The Big Hole then meanders through the cottonwoods and meadows melding with the Beaverhead just north of the town of Twin Bridges to create the Jefferson River.
Beaverhead: Over 200 years ago Lewis and Clark discovered the Beaverhead River hoping to find a Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean. The Beaverhead River flows out of the Clark Canyon Reservoir Dam creating one of Montana’s prestigious blue-ribbon trout waters for the largest trout per river mile. The Beaverhead is narrow with undercut banks, plenty of fly devouring brush, and surprisingly, home to very muscular and combative trout. These floats are high risk / high reward with the reward always outweighing the risk. We float places with names like “Task to Trash”. The Beaverhead River is less than ten minutes from the Lodge. the largest Brown Trout in the state.
Madison River: The Madison is one large continuous jazz riff as it bee-bops over endless riffles creating a river full of action, constant casting along with endless fishing rewards. The Madison, like all true western rivers, possesses enormous vitality. The river is born in the high plateau of Yellowstone National Park. The Madison should be on every angler’s Bucket List. The river has up to 2,500 trout per river mile. Stunning scenery, outstanding guide serve, and comfortable lodging, the choice is easy.
Jefferson River: Healing Waters Lodge is just a ten minute drive from the understated and underrated Jefferson River. The Jefferson runs northeast for about 77 river miles to Three Forks where it meets up with the Madison and Gallatin Rivers to form the Missouri River. The Jefferson has made a dramatic comeback, becoming an excellent fishery through the hard work and cooperation of Landowners, Trout Unlimited, Water Conservation Districts and Anglers, illustrating what we can accomplish when working together.
Smith River Float Trip: Our Smith River float trip is five days and four nights down 59 river miles through some of Montana’s most coveted landscapes. Permits are required to flat this most coveted section of the river in order to preserve and protect this important treasure. We put in at Camp Baker and float north each day stopping at camps each night along the way and takeout at Eden Bridge. The river is best known for its scenic beauty, remote setting, tall limestone walls, wildlife viewing and considered a blue-water trout fishery. The river is only accessible by non-motorized watercraft that includes drift boats, rafts, canoes, and kayaks.,
Private Water Fly Fishing: Enjoy pristine fishing on some of Montana’s best private waters. The Ruby River is a terrific, small meadow river. Alder Spring Creek is a very challenging spring creek that we have exclusive use on some sections. Boulder River is a small meadow stream tributary of the Jefferson. You will find some fine mid-summer dry fly fishing with attactor dries and hoppers. The Gund Ranch puts clients into some of the largest Rainbows, Brook Trout and Brown’s in Montana. The ranch has three spring ponds ranging in size from a couple of acres to eleven acres. Wheat Ranch controls several miles on the lower Beaverhead not floatable for guided anglers. We can however wade fish much like a spring creek for large Rainbow Trout. Morse Land Co. is only a five minute drive from Healing Waters Lodge. There are several miles of the lower Ruby River, a short section of Leonard Slough (spring creek), miles of Mill Creek which is a small meadow stream loaded with nice Brown Trout and a small pond for the still water folks.
Note: All private water fishing requires a rod fee for each angler. Prices very between $100 and $150 per rod per day.
