While it's difficult to fish from a boat on the Ruby, a canoe can be useful for reaching inaccessible portions of the river. The Ruby's brushy habitat and frequent backwater sloughs also generate outstanding birdlife. It's a great area for sandhill cranes. Because of limited access, the small size of the river, and long float distances between access points, the Ruby gets very little floating pressure. This river has so many bends that you should plan on traveling about 3 river miles for every air mile.
Access is strictly by fishing access sites.
Most floating occurs between Silver Springs access and Twin Bridges. A small canoe is the best craft, as it can handle sharp turns and narrow channels and can be portaged easily. Moreover, barbed wire and sharp willows will puncture all but the sturdiest rafts. While the Ruby isn't difficult, it takes considerable skill to negotiate the repeated sharp bends, narrow channels, diversion dams, and protruding trees. Beginners should stay away when the river is high.