Joshua Tank

Joshua Tank is a reservoir in Catron County, New Mexico, and covers about 0.5 acres, reaches about 2.3 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 0.6 acre-feet.

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

Fish and Baits

The early check on Joshua Tank should stay simple: the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.

For a short trip to Joshua 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

While fishing Joshua 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

While learning Joshua Tank, 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

During the first hour on Joshua 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.

One way to read Joshua Tank is this: 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.