• Montana is the perfect cure for the nature-deficit disorder. You will return home a better person.

• "Big Sky" Montana welcomed 8 NYAC anglers to the beautiful, ruggedly natural, Ruby Valley where we stayed at Upper Canyon Ranch, a dude ranch in Alder, Southwest Montana.

• The ranch has been in the Tate Family for over 100 years when Grandfather Tate homesteaded this area which was purported to yield rubies but the gems were actually garnet. Gold also made its way into the deep history of this area. Now Granddaughter Donna Tate and her husband Jake dedicated many hard working hours in running the ranch. We also want to thank our Fishing Guides Layne, Eric, Lance, Rocko, Val, and Donna!

• The spring and groundwater fed Ruby River meanders throuh this valley and won't easily give up her gorgeous fish of Brown and Rainbow trout, Grayling, Mountain Whitefish, West Slope Cutthroat, Cutbow Hybrid, and Brook Trout. The grayling, cutthroat, and whitefish are native species to the area and are prized catches.

• 2 hours away, the majestic Madison River, was best floated and fished with both dries and nymphs. The Madison just started to fish well and we caught our share of 'bows, brownies, and whiteys.

• Being a desert at high altitude, the Ruby Valley sky takes on a crisp deep blue and the clouds a pure white. The majestic Rockies filled the horizon. The vistas were breathtaking and we never stopped being awed by the gifts of nature. We saw a hawk grasping a prairie dog, antelope, deer, and eagles sharing a tree with her 2 young eaglets.