Fishing at Captain Tom Reservoir, San Juan County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Out in San Juan County, New Mexico, sits Captain Tom Reservoir. Height above sea level is 5,666 feet. At about 71 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Tsaile is the closest place, 26 miles off. After that come Lukachukai at 28 miles and Navajo at 31 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Captain Tom Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Species logged across San Juan County include flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, channel catfish and common carp. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Captain Tom Reservoir gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 74°F in July and bottoms out near 30°F in January. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. That is the shape of the year on Captain Tom Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Tocito Lake, 8.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Captain Tom Reservoir in what we hold.