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Rating depth structure for channel catfish.
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11-acre reservoir near Gallup. The lake tops out around 12 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The outline encloses 11 acres, worked by 0.6 miles of shoreline. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Figure 0.3 mi of water from one end to the other. McKinley County claims this one. If the bite dies, Ramah Lake is 16 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 12 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 5 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 12 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 12 ft covers summer, 2 to 12 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and early morning. Throw a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 12 ft; winter keeps them in 4 to 12 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 10 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | Deep basin (10 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 10 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Mexico waters are set by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish — and special regulations can apply to McGaffey Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Mexico fishing regulations →
McGaffey Lake is about 12 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout, channel catfish on McGaffey Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on McGaffey Lake is regulated by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish. Check the official New Mexico regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Ramah Lake 16 mi · Bluewater Lake 22 mi · Quemado Lake 86 mi · Becker Lake 96 mi, AZ · Nelson Reservoir 99 mi, AZ · Rio Guadalupe 101 mi · Carnero Lake 105 mi, AZ · Little Colorado River (Greer) 105 mi, AZ · Jemez River 105 mi · San Juan River 106 mi · Tingley Beach 106 mi · Fenton Lake 106 mi
See how McGaffey Lake stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in New Mexico · best rainbow trout lakes in New Mexico · best brown trout lakes in New Mexico
Browse all New Mexico fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.