Horsethief Tank

Horsethief Tank in Gila County is a reservoir in Arizona and covers about 0.2 acres, reaches about 5.8 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 0.6 acre-feet.

On an first pass, horsethief Tank is small water, so a careful lap around the shoreline can show most of the useful cover. Before changing spots on Horsethief Tank, this water is shallow, so weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

At Horsethief Tank, the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch; look for a second bite before leaving on this 0.2-acre reservoir.

At Horsethief Tank, begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water; look for a second bite before leaving on this 0.2-acre reservoir.

How to Read the Water

At Horsethief Tank, use wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge near a point or protected pocket.

Season by Season

At Horsethief Tank, shallow water is worth a careful look in spring and again during fall; bright summer days favor shade, weeds, or deeper breaks; under ice, a small depth change can be more useful than a long move.

A Simple Tackle Plan

At Horsethief Tank, a medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle; look for a second bite before leaving on this 0.2-acre reservoir.

At Horsethief Tank, record the wind, water color, productive depth, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; look for a second bite before leaving on this 0.2-acre reservoir.