Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder, MT

Southwest Montana (Beaverhead & Big Hole) · USGS gauge 06020600 · Updated Oct 25, 11:23 AM PDT · USGS data, provisional

All 2 Ruby River gauges in Montana

Fishable/Floatable44.6 cfs● steady (+0% in 24 h)

Reading time: Oct 25, 11:45 AM PDT · Provisional data

Flow is in a typical range for the date. Rivers are generally easiest to fish and float when they are near their normal flow, but this status says nothing about water clarity, hatches, hazards such as wood in the river, or dam releases.

Vs. normal for this date
16th percentile
Typical range (25th–75th)
51.0–102 cfs
Median for this date
68.5 cfs
7-day low / high
43.6 / 53.4 cfs

Water temperature & gage height

Gage height (stage)
2.35 ft as of Oct 25, 11:45 AM PDT · USGS 00065 · Provisional

Context only: these readings do not affect the status above, which is based on flow (cfs) alone. Gage height is the water level above this gauge's own reference point, not water depth, and can't be compared between gauges. Temperature converted from °C to °F by Flowcast. Source: USGS, provisional data.

Plain-language explanation

Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder is flowing at 44.6 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Oct 25, 11:45 AM PDT. That is on the low side for this time of year: lower than about 84% of the daily flows this gauge has recorded for this date (give or take 7 days) over 64 years of record (1962–2026).

The middle half of those historical flows runs from 51.0 to 102 cfs, with a median of 68.5 cfs; the lowest 10% of days are at or below 41.1 cfs and the highest 10% at or above 143 cfs.

Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (+0.0%). In the last 7 days it ranged from 43.6 to 53.4 cfs.

Regulated flow: upstream dams or diversions influence this gauge, so the “normal range” above reflects managed flows and can differ from natural river behavior.

Why this status: Flow is within the range this gauge normally sees at this time of year (or the deviation is too small in absolute terms to matter).

Quick answers

Is the Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder fishable today?

Flowcast's status for the Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder is “Fishable/Floatable”: flow is 44.6 cfs, within the range this gauge normally sees at this time of year, at the 16th percentile for this date (as of Oct 25, 11:45 AM PDT). That describes flow only. It says nothing about water clarity, temperature, fish activity, access or fishing regulations.

What is the current flow of the Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder?

44.6 cubic feet per second at USGS gauge 06020600 as of Oct 25, 11:45 AM PDT, provisional data.

Is the Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder too high or too low right now?

Neither: it is inside the typical range for the date (51.0 to 102 cfs).

Is the Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder rising or falling?

Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (+0.0%).

What is a normal flow for the Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder in October?

For this date (give or take 7 days) the median is 68.5 cfs and the middle half of days runs 51.0 to 102 cfs, over 64 years of USGS record.

7-day trend

typical range for this date (25th-75th pct)42.145.348.551.754.9Mon 10/19Tue 10/20Wed 10/21Thu 10/22Fri 10/23Sat 10/24Sun 10/25

Hourly flow in cfs, Pacific time. The shaded band is the typical range (25th–75th percentile) for this date, shown when it falls within the chart.

Day (Pacific)Mean cfsPercentileStatus that day
Mon Oct 1952.526thFishable/Floatable
Tue Oct 2052.226thFishable/Floatable
Wed Oct 2146.816thFishable/Floatable
Thu Oct 2244.514thFishable/Floatable
Fri Oct 2344.615thFishable/Floatable
Sat Oct 2444.615thFishable/Floatable
Sun Oct 25 (so far)44.716thFishable/Floatable

Seasonal context

1020501002005001,000JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Shaded band: 10th–90th percentile of daily flows through the year; dashed line: median. Log scale. Dot: today's flow. Based on 64 years of USGS daily data (1962–2026).

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Official resources

Links go to the agencies' own websites and were checked as working. Flowcast does not summarize fishing or boating rules: regulations and closures change, and the agency pages are the authority.

About this gauge

USGS site
USGS-06020600
USGS name
Ruby River Below Reservoir Near Alder, Mt
Drainage area
595 sq mi
Location
45.2419, -112.1112
Record in this analysis
1962–2026
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Readings are provisional and subject to revision. Flowcast statuses are automated comparisons with each gauge's own history, not safety ratings or fishing reports. Check local conditions, weather, regulations and closures before you go. Rivers can change quickly.

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Southwest Montana: Beaverhead, Big Hole, Ruby & Jefferson

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