Fishback Tank

Fishback Tank is a reservoir in McKinley County, New Mexico, and covers about 10.1 acres, reaches about 7.1 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 40 acre-feet.

On a water as small as Fishback Tank, one weed edge or deeper pocket can hold much of the day’s activity. With little deep water in Fishback Tank, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

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

For a first pass on Fishback 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

At Fishback Tank, start where two things meet: weeds and open water, rock and mud, a point and a drop, or clear water and dirty water; fish that edge at more than one depth before leaving it.

Season by Season

The early check on Fishback Tank should stay simple: 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 a short trip to Fishback 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.

For the next pass on Fishback 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.