NEWS: A New Partnership With Upper Canyon Outfitters

Tying for a fly fishing trip is part of the trip

If you’ve been to Upper Canyon Outfitters, you know it’s not the kind of place you stumble upon, it’s the kind of place you come back to.

If you’ve not yet made the trip into the Ruby Valley of Alder, Montana here’s a taste:

Homesteaded by the Tate family in 1910, UCO isn’t just a lodge with good food and great fishing (though it has both)—it’s a place where people feel genuinely seen. Guests aren’t treated like clients or sports, and instead, they’re welcomed into the rhythm of ranch life. A bit like they’ve come home…

“The basic theme of our mission statement is 'Where here feels like home,'” says Cassie Ubaldo. “People have often said that when they drive towards the ranch, they see our ‘logo’ mountain behind the lodge, and they say, ‘I feel like I am almost home.’ People have often said they feel like part of the family when they are here. I think what that means is that they felt seen and connected, which can be a hard experience to come by.”

Cassie’s mother, Donna, adds, “What brings people back is that they feel that they get what they paid for. We keep our word. We undersell and over deliver. People are seeking connection, and being in the mountains helps them feel that. It doesn’t matter which generation is running the ranch—people just like the consistency of the family atmosphere.”

That might be why the Ruby River—a modest little stream by Western standards—feels like something more when you’re standing in it.

“Fishing the Ruby River with Upper Canyon Outfitters was everything I’d imagined and more,” said Charles Vick, President & GM of J. Stockard Fly Fishing, after a recent trip.  

He continued, “From the moment we pulled into Upper Canyon Outfitters, we were welcomed like old friends. The lodge has a family-run feel in the best possible way—personal, warm, and easygoing.”

“It’s a comfortable atmosphere that also fosters adventure, which is great because the Ruby is the kind of river that rewards exploration and pushing oneself. The folks at UCO are as excited about helping clients expand their horizons as we are about helping customers take their fly tying to new levels. It’s why this new partnership between our two family-run businesses feels like such a natural fit,” Charles said. 

A Shared Circle of Craft and Community

Indeed, the roots of this partnership run deep. Both UCO and J. Stockard are family-owned, and both believe in the long game—where relationships matter more than quick sales, and the craft itself is worth preserving.

“A common theme between our companies is shared core values,” says Fredy Ubaldo. “We both put customer experience above all else. While UCO teaches the skill-based aspect of fly fishing, J. Stockard provides the carefully crafted items that make the sport possible. Our shared passion completes the circle that is fly fishing.”

And for many anglers, that circle starts with a spool of thread, a bare hook, and a little pile of feathers on the table.

“As a family-owned business, we know and understand the value of hard work intimately,” the UCO team reflected. “When people can invest their time, energy, and effort into their sport, the sense of satisfaction is so much deeper and more fulfilling."

At its heart, this partnership is about more than savings, it’s about a shared love for the little things: the rhythm of thread on a hook, the quiet of early mornings on the water, and the satisfaction of knowing your fly was tied by your own hands.

Has there ever been a better time to start gearing up for a trip to the Ruby? We think not.