Fishing at Upper Galestina Number 7 Reservoir, McKinley County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Out in McKinley County, New Mexico, sits Upper Galestina Number 7 Reservoir. Around the bank it is mixed woodland. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Black Rock sits 13 miles out. Further out sit Zuni Pueblo (15 miles) and Houck (39 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Upper Galestina Number 7 Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across McKinley County include bluehead sucker, green sunfish, muskellunge and Rio Grande sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. This water gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 28°F in January up to 66°F in July. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. At this water the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Upper Galestina Number One A Reservoir at 3.6 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at this water may have changed since it was mapped.