MarDon Resort Fresh News – February 27th, 2025

 

MarDon Resort Fresh News – February 27th, 2025

IT’S ICE OFF, with the ice disappearing from the reservoir and the sunny

days forecasted for the week ahead is the signal we’ve been waiting for!

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1044.23 feet – Rising 0.31

feet this past week. Water temperatures are right around 37 degrees on the main

Reservoir. The dunes do have ice in places. Our temperatures are forecast to be

55-59 degrees for the highs this week and that should take care of the ice in the

dunes and seeps lakes.

Walleye fishing has picked up pace. Walleye are being caught jigging ó oz.

blade baits, jigging 3” minnow style baits on a 3/8 oz jig head in 28-40 feet, slow

rolling a 3.80” swimbait on a 3/8” jig head and drop shotting 3-4” plastics.

Largemouth Bass have moved onto the face of the dunes and are being caught

on black & blue jigs, paddle tail swimbaits, and Blade baits. Fish 2-15 feet of

water.

Trout are being caught in front of the State Park and off Medicare Beach. Troll #

5 or #7 Shad Raps of Flicker Shads. From Shore cast Rooster Tails or 4” curl tail

grubs or fish the bottom with Power Bait. Several year around lakes are

producing decent catches of trout.

No reports of panfish being caught yet.

As always for more info or help choosing tackle, stop into our fully stocked

tackle shop. We also carry ammo, boating and hunting accessories and are

open 7 days a week all year or call the MarDon Resort Tackle store for current

conditions and fishing information at 509-346-2651

MarDon Resort Fresh News – February 7th, 2025

 MarDon Resort Fresh News – February 7th, 2025

Burr, it’s cold. But not cold enough to freeze the main body of water. The dunes

and most of Lind Coulee are covered with ice. We have received unconfirmed reports of

just 3-5 inches of thickness. As of Friday morning, all the access ramps were free of ice

but that can change rapidly with the forecasted overnight temps in the low teens to

single digits. There have been very few diehards out trying their luck for panfish and

walleye, so the reports have been few and far between. Over the week of 1/31/25 to

2/07/2025 Potholes Reservoir has risen from 1043.26ft to 1043.54ft for a gain of 0.28ft.

Water temp was 34.3 degrees 2/06/2025 morning. To target winter eyes throw 1/2oz or

5/8oz Blade baits or #7 Jigging Raps in 20 to 40 FOW along perch point, in front of the

state park & around goose island. Anglers have also been finding perch mixed in with

the walleye. If you are an Eagle’s fan, the bald eagle’s have moved back on to potholes

reservoir. At any given time 7 to 12 adult & juvenile eagles can be seen from our lawn.

As always for more info or help choosing tackle, stop into our fully stocked tackle

shop. We also carry ammo, boating and hunting accessories and are open 7 days a

week all year or call the MarDon Resort Tackle store for current conditions and fishing

information at 509-346-2651

Photo taken by Levi Rodelo

MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 24, 2024

MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 24, 2024

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1028.55 feet – rising 0.35 feet this past week.

We are currently 2.05 feet above low pool. at low pool. The water temperature on the main lake and

on the face of the sand dunes is in the mid to upper 60s.

The Largemouth bass fishing continues to be excellent. Fish Spooks early and late and always have

a Senko rigged to follow up on missed fish. Fish the face of the sand dunes. Throw ó oz jigs, swim

jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-20 feet of

water. Lots of 1–3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4–6-pound range. The Largemouth

and most species are on the face of the dunes.

The Smallmouth fishing has been good this week. Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, Senkos, spinner

baits, drop shot rigs, blade baits, crankbaits and tubes. Fish the rock piles around Goose Island and

along the face of the dam and up Lind Coulee.

Walleye fishing has been improved this past week and will continue to improve as the water temps

drop. Walleye can be caught trolling the humps and flats on the face of the sand dunes. Troll both #5

and #7 Flicker shad at 1.5-2.0 mph. Also troll a slow death rig with a crawler at .8 -1.2 mph. Fish in 6-

22 feet of water. Jigging is an effective way to fish this time if year for walleye as well. Cast or

vertically jig Jigging Raps, blade baits, or a 3.00” Gulp Minnow on a 1/4oz jig head.

Trout fishing has been fair. Troll # 7 Flicker Shads or spoons 2-3 mph. Fish Medicare Beach or from

MarDon Resort to Blythe Point. From shore, fish Medicare Beach with PowerBait or cast 5’ single tail

grubs.

The Seep Lakes south of the Potholes Reservoir are fishing well. Top lakes are Warden, Long Lake,

and Soda Lake. Use PowerBait 18” off the bottom or cast Rooster Tails. From a boat troll spoons and

spinners. Long Lake is producing good catches of walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth and Perch.

Reports of bluegill, crappie and some big perch are coming in from the face of the sand dunes as well as on the humps in front of the dunes. Use a slip bobber and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or DS Fry along the channels and along the willows a?er marking the school on your electronics. Fish 6-22 feet. Also try trolling a #5 Flicker Shad across the face of the sand dunes.

Call the MarDon Resort tackle store for current conditions and fishing information at 509-346-2651.

Joshua Sveum caught this 19.50 pound Channel Catfish on the face of the sand dunes while fishing for Bluegill! He brought the fish in to be weighed and back into his livewell, ran back out to be released!

 

MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 17, 2024

 MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 17, 2024

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1028.20 feet – rising 1.70 feet this past week.

We are currently 1.70 feet above low pool. at low pool. The water temperature on the main lake and

on the face of the sand dunes is in the mid to upper 60s.

Nothing much has changed since last week – except the walleye bite is improving as fall sets in.

Everything else is fishing really good!

The Largemouth bass fishing continues to be excellent. Fish Spooks early and late and always have

a Senko rigged to follow up on missed fish. Fish the face of the sand dunes. Throw ó oz jigs, swim

jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-20 feet of

water. Lots of 1–3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4–6-pound range. The Largemouth

and most species are on the face of the dunes.

The Smallmouth fishing has been good this week. Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, Senkos, spinner

baits, drop shot rigs, blade baits, crankbaits and tubes. Fish the rock piles around Goose Island and

along the face of the dam and up Lind Coulee.

Walleye fishing has decent this past week and improving. Walleye can be caught trolling the humps

and flats on the face of the sand dunes. Troll both #5 and #7 Flicker shad at 1.5-2.0. Also troll a slow

death rig with a crawler at .8 -1.2 mph. Fish in 6-22 feet of water. Jigging is an effective way to fish

this time if year for walleye as well. Cast or vertically jig Jigging Raps, blade baits, or a 3.00” Gulp

Minnow on a 1/4oz jig head.

Trout fishing has been fair. Troll # 7 Flicker Shads or spoons 2-3 mph. Fish Medicare Beach or from

MarDon Resort to Blythe Point. From shore, fish Medicare Beach with PowerBait or cast 5’ single tail

grubs.

The Seep Lakes south of the Potholes Reservoir are fishing well. Top lakes are Warden, Long Lake,

and Soda Lake. Use PowerBait 18” off the bottom or cast Rooster Tails. From a boat troll spoons and

spinners. Long Lake is producing good catches of walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth and Perch.

Reports of bluegill, crappie and some big perch are coming in from the face of the sand dunes as well as on the humps in front of the dunes. Most fish are being caught incidentally by anglers trolling for walleye. Use a slip bobber and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or DS Fry along the channels and along the willows area marking the school on your electronics. Fish 6-22 feet. Also try trolling a #5 Flicker Shad across the face of the sand dines.

Call the MarDon Resort tackle store for current conditions and fishing information at 509-346-2651.

Deena Vietzke, from Othello, caught this bull Bluegill while fishing the face of the sand dunes on the Potholes Reservoir!

MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 10, 2024

 MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 10, 2024

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1026.50 feet – dropping 0.50 feet this past week.

We are currently at low pool. The water temperature on the main lake and on the face of the sand

dunes is in the mid to upper 60s.

The Largemouth bass fishing continues to be excellent. Fish Spooks early and late and always have

a Senko rigged to follow up on missed fish. Fish the face of the sand dunes. Throw ó oz jigs, swim

jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-20 feet of

water. Lots of 1–3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4–6-pound range. The Largemouth

and most species are on the face of the dunes.

The Smallmouth fishing has been good this week. Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, Senkos, spinner

baits, drop shot rigs, blade baits, crankbaits and tubes. Fish the rock piles around Goose Island and

along the face of the dam and up Lind Coulee.

Walleye fishing has decent this past week and improving. Walleye can be caught trolling the humps

and flats on the face of the sand dunes. Troll both #5 and #7 Flicker shad at 1.5-2.0. Also troll a slow

death rig with a crawler at .8 -1.2 mph. Fish in 6-22 feet of water. Jigging is an effective way to fish

this time if year for walleye as well. Cast or vertically jig Jigging Raps, blade baits, or a 3.00” Gulp

Minnow on a 1/4oz jig head.

Trout fishing has been fair. Troll # 7 Flicker Shads or spoons 2-3 mph. Fish Medicare Beach or from

MarDon Resort to Blythe Point. From shore, fish Medicare Beach with PowerBait or cast 5’ single tail

grubs.

The Seep Lakes south of the Potholes Reservoir are fishing well. Top lakes are Warden, Long Lake,

and Soda Lake. Use PowerBait 18” off the bottom or cast Rooster Tails. From a boat troll spoons and

spinners. Long Lake is producing good catches of walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth and Perch.

Reports of bluegill, crappie and some big perch are coming in from the face of the sand dunes as well as on the humps in front of the dunes. Most fish are being caught incidentally by anglers trolling for walleye. Use a slip bobber and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or DS Fry along the channels and along the willows area marking the school on your electronics. Fish 6-22 feet. Also try trolling a #5 Flicker Shad across the face of the sand dines.

Call the MarDon Resort tackle store for current conditions and fishing information at 509-346-2651.

Carol Broady caught this chunky Largemouth bass while fishing the face of the sand dunes this week!

MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 03, 2024

 MarDon Resort Fresh News – September 03, 2024

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1027.00 feet – dropping 1.00 foot this past week.

We are currently .50 feet above low pool. The water temperature on the main lake and on the face of

themsand duns is right around 70 degrees.

The Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this week! Fish Spooks early and late and always

have a Senko rigged to follow up on missed fish. Fish the face of the sand dunes. Throw ó oz jigs,

swim jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-20

feet of water. Lots of 1–3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4–5-pound range. The

Largemouth and most species are moving out to the face of the dunes.

The Smallmouth fishing has been good this week. Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, Senkos, spinner

baits, drop shot rigs, blade baits, crankbaits and tubes. Fish the rock piles around Goose Island and

along the face of the dam and up Lind Coulee.

Walleye fishing has decent this past week as most of the walleyed have transitioned to the face of the

sand dunes. Walleye can be caught trolling the humps and flats on the face of the sand dunes. Troll

both #5 and #7 Flicker shad at 1.5-2.0. Also troll a slow death rig with a crawler at .8 -1.2 mph. Fish in

6-22 feet of water. Jigging ha also been effective, Cast or vertically jig Jigging Raps, blade baits, or a

3.00” Gulp Minnow on a 1/4oz jig head.

Trout fishing has been fair. Troll # 7 Flicker Shads or spoons 2-3 mph. Fish Medicare Beach or from

MarDon Resort to Blythe Point. From shore, fish Medicare Beach with PowerBait or cast 5’ single tail

grubs.

The Seep Lakes south of the Potholes Reservoir are fishing well. Top trout lakes are Warden, Upper

Hampton, and Upper Goose. Use PowerBait 18” off the bottom or cast Rooster Tails. From a boat

troll spoons and spinners. Long Lake is producing good catches of walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth

and Perch.

Reports of bluegill, crappie and some big perch are coming in from the face of the sand dunes as well as on the humps in front of the dunes. Most fish are being caught incidentally by anglers trolling for walleye. Use a slip bobber and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or DS Fry along the channels and along the willows area marking the school on your electronics. Fish 6-22 feet. Also try trolling a #5 Flicker Shad across the face of the sand dines.

Call the MarDon Resort tackle store for current conditions and fishing information at 509-346-2651.

Local angler, Marilee Moore, with a solid 4.00 Pound Potholes Reservoir Largemouth Bass!