Jim Reservoir, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Montana, Jim Reservoir falls inside Valley County. The surface lies 2,352 feet up. At about 82 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 2.2 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Valley County list. The closest town, Glasgow, is 23 miles distant. Further out sit Malta (44 miles) and Wolf Point (66 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Jim Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Valley County records list Chinook salmon, northern pike and cisco among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Jim Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 71°F and January near 14°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. On average, early April opens the water and late November closes it again. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Jim Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Twin Forks Reservoir at 2.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Jim Reservoir locally before you travel.