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Montana · Fishing
Lima sits in the far southwest corner of Montana, tucked into a high-elevation valley where the fishing is quiet, unhurried, and genuinely good if you know what you're working with.
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Lima sits in the far southwest corner of Montana, tucked into a high-elevation valley where the fishing is quiet, unhurried, and genuinely good if you know what you're working with. The options around town split cleanly between moving water and stillwater: river fishing at Antone Cabin puts you on a stretch of current worth wading, while MacDonald Pond, Blair Lake, and Lower Red Rock Lake offer lake fishing across a range of sizes and settings. Lower Red Rock Lake in particular sits within the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, which shapes both the access experience and the regulations you'll need to check before you go. This is not a destination with a lot of fishing pressure relative to what's available, which is part of the appeal. The trade-off is that services are minimal in Lima itself, so you're planning ahead on gear, licenses, and supplies before you arrive. Beaverhead County fishing can run well into fall given the elevation, but spring runoff timing matters if you're targeting the river. If you're driving up from Idaho or coming through on I-15, Lima makes a practical and underrated base for a few days of fishing without the crowds you'd find closer to Dillon.
You have both river fishing and lake fishing within reach. Antone Cabin is the river option, while MacDonald Pond, Blair Lake, and Lower Red Rock Lake are stillwater destinations. Lower Red Rock Lake is the largest and most notable of the three lakes, located within the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes, and this is important to check before you go. Lower Red Rock Lake falls within the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, which can carry specific fishing regulations separate from standard Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks rules. Pull the current refuge regulations directly from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site and cross-reference with your Montana fishing license requirements before your trip.
Steel Creek Group Campground
~28 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ID.
Mccrea Bridge
~43 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ID.
Henry's Fork: Last Chance
~45 min drive
Expert
Fisherman's Point
~49 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MT.
Ruby River - Alder Access
~1h 22m drive
Moderate
Al Taylor Cabin
~28 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ID.
Buttermilk
~43 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ID.
Antone Cabin
~35 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MT.
Upper Coffee Pot
~44 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ID.
Stoddard Creek Campground
~43 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ID.
Flat Rock
~46 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ID.
Wall Creek Cabin
~43 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MT.
Summer through early fall is the most reliable window. Spring runoff can affect river conditions at Antone Cabin, so if that's your target, wait until flows stabilize, typically by late June depending on snowpack. The lakes tend to fish well from ice-out through September, with early mornings and evenings being the most productive times of day.
Lima works as a base if you're self-sufficient. The town is small and doesn't have a fly shop or full outfitter services, so bring everything you need including licenses, which you can purchase online through Montana FWP before you arrive. Dillon, about 45 minutes north on I-15, has more services if you need to resupply.
The lake fishing at MacDonald Pond, Blair Lake, and Lower Red Rock Lake is accessible to beginners and casual anglers. River fishing at Antone Cabin requires a bit more comfort with reading current and wading, especially earlier in the season when flows are higher. None of these locations require a guide, but first-time visitors to the area should check access points and road conditions ahead of time, particularly for spots within the refuge.
