Ancho Tank

Ancho Tank is a reservoir in Lincoln County, New Mexico, and covers about 0.2 acres, reaches about 1.7 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 0.2 acre-feet.

Ancho Tank is small water, so a careful lap around the bank can show most of the useful cover. With little deep water in Ancho Tank, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

Before changing spots on Ancho Tank, the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.

A focused trip to Ancho Tank begins this way: 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

For a short trip to Ancho Tank, make one shallow pass and one deeper pass on the same shoreline; that shows whether fish are tight to cover or using the first break.

Season by Season

A direct approach on Ancho Tank works like this: early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.

A Simple Tackle Plan

For the next pass on Ancho 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.

While learning Ancho 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.