Shipley Tank

Shipley Tank is a reservoir in Mohave County, Arizona and covers about 2 acres, reaches about 11 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 9.4 acre-feet.

The small size of Shipley Tank makes quiet casts and short moves more useful than carrying a pile of tackle. With little deep water in Shipley Tank, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

The plan for Shipley Tank starts here: the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.

Before changing spots on Shipley 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.

How to Read the Water

When working Shipley 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

For a first pass on Shipley Tank, in spring, start with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace.

A Simple Tackle Plan

The first look at Shipley Tank should cover this: 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.

For a short trip to Shipley 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.