Alberta's North Ram River was Alberta's first catch & release trout stream, being designated so in the early 1980s. It is a popular foothills stream that produces some large westslope cutthroat trout. The annual rhythm of the North Ram is cold, high water at the time it opens the middle of June each year. Water levels are buoyed by the remnants of alpine snow melt and June rains. The weather typically warms by the end of June and good dry fly fishing begins as levels come down to good wading. Sally stones, golden stones, caddis, blue winged olive mayflies and march brown mayflies hatch at this time, and these give way to pmds, hoppers, green drakes, flavs, slate winged olives, and a return of blue winged olives by fall. It is a productive water that produces cutthroat trout to 20", though many cutthroat trout in the 20 - 22" are caught each season. Every few years 24" are caught in the North Ram River.

The popular season is late July and early August, but mid week fishing is quiet for the most part. It's a very pleasant valley set in lodgepole pine covered foothills with the front range of the Rockies as the headwaters. There are excellent riffles, runs, and pools throughout its length. It is a floodplain river that has numerous log jams and woody debris that hold good numbers of cutthroat.

Walk & Wade
We offer walk and wade fly fishing trips on the N Ram River. We can provide transportation from Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, or meet on stream at your camping location if you will be camping in the area.
Our Daily walk & wade rate is available on our main Fly Fish Alberta Rates Page

Wilderness Camping
We offer camping trips on the N Ram River. All gear, food, equipment, camp set up, etc is included in the prices. Again, rates are available at our main rates page

North Ram River Gallery

Evening cast Late afternoon and early evening spinner falls produce well	A fine cutt From under a shoreline log, a rise and a nice cutt.	Early Fall A series of ice bells tolls on the end of the season - Oct 31 each season	Snake The headwaters of the N Ram snake through the alpine meadows.	Ram Range The headwater mountains in evening sunlight	Julie Andrews If you listen carefully, Julie might be singing in the rolling, grassy hills at the N Ram's headwaters.	Bankside A large dry along the rock shelf got the take
They call me slash This one just doesn't play hard rock - he lives by one though.	Slow Ride A slow drift gives way to a nice trout	More up top A full view of the headwaters valley	Summer A perfect day	Obvious A chute on a cutthroat stream. Hmmm, a given?	Mine's bigger 24" cutthroat. Awesome.	Take two Dual rainbows over the N Ram
In the seam A nice cutt taken from the edge of the run.	Snapshot ... of a perfect day on the water	Mr Obvious A big, deep pool and a fly rod in hand, soon with a cutthroat in hand.	Surprise Fun!	About to swim away A nice cutthroat on its way home	Typical A typical sized cutthroat from the N Ram	Hopes rise With the morning sunrise comes hopes of stellar summer weather and good fishing on the N Ram.
Cliff Drift Tucked away into the rock wall, out for breakfast, in hand by 11. A good drift along the wall tagged this trout.	Happy Stellar weather and water conditions of mid summer make for many happy moments.	Colorful A nicely colored cutthroat	Shelf seam A drop off bucket with an obvious seam. Gotta be one right about... there!	Aspen Gardens A grassy, south facing hillside showing summer greens	Crystal Clear Watching the trout rise to your fly on the N Ram. Wait for the take, the water's really clear.	Rosie A nice set of colors
Happy His first cutthroat trout on the fly	Ya baby! The day went well!	Summer's feel The dog days of summer and another trout on the line	Autumn The sun shines lower but the trout still feed.	One last time Mid October and a blue winged olive hatch brings risers to the bankside run.

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Fly Fish Alberta & Fortress Lake Retreat are proud to be Orvis Endorsed Expeditions, and in working relationship with Frontiers Travel. Orvis & Frontiers represent a high quality of service and an exceptional fly fishing experience, our goal on every trip.