August 24, 2017

The water level has dropped another 1.50 feet this past week and is currently at 1027.80 feet – 17.50 feet lower than high-pool back in May.  This is about as low as it will go this year according to officials. The water level will hold at this elevatoin for the next several weeks before feeding water back into the Potholes Reservoir. Use caution when launching your boat. The low water is making it extremely difficult if not impossible to get very far into the dunes.  The water temps back in the dunes are in the mid-80s and main lake surface temp is right around 80 degrees.

The walleye fishing has been tough this past week – but should be improving as the water level has pulled the bait and walleye out of the dunes. Troll the face of the dunes and Goose Island with crankbaits in 8-15 feet of water Best bet – troll #5 or #7 Flicker Shads and Rapalas in perch, chartreuse, and purple colors. The Smile Blade/Slow Death Hook with half a crawler has been working as well.

Several reports of big crappie and big bluegills being caught fishing smaller crankbaits on the face of the dunes. The MarDon Dock fishing is fishing very good for crappie, bluegill and some perch. Dock fishing is only available to registered guests staying at MarDon Resort.

The Channel Catfish and bullhead is excellent right now! Fish around Goose Island and the face of the dunes. The best baits for the catfish and bullheads have been worms and Berkley Power Bait Catfish nuggets.

The largemouth bass fishing is incredible right now! The fish have stacked up on the face of the dunes and are feeding on the tremendous amount of baitfish in the area. Fish the face of the dunes with Rebel Pop-R’s, Zara Spooks, hula grubs on a football head and wacky rigged Senkos. There have been reports of big largemouth and smallmouth bass coming from the face of the dam. Throw crankbaits, tubes, and 5” Kalin’s grubs for both.

Trout fishing is fair for anglers trolling crankbaits and spoons along Medicare Beach and in the Lind Coulee arm of the Reservoir. The fish are running 2-4 pounds.

Pete Spahr with a 2+ pound Crappie caught on the face of the dunes!

Pic2  Jeff Dillion caught this nice Smallmouth on the face of the dunes.

Jeff was fishing a 5" Senko - wacky rigged.

Joe Poelzer of Everrett, WA with three nice keeper walleye. Joe was fishing a

Smile Blade- Slow Death rig on the humps out from the dunes in about 10 feet of water.

August 10th, 2017

The water level has dropped two feet this past week and is currently at 1030.95 feet.  The water temps back in the dunes are reaching 83 degrees during the day with the main lake surface temps are in the low 80’s.

The walleye have scattered – but are eating! The Reservoir continues to drop at a quick pace – there are big fish as far as you can go up in the dunes, there are fish on the face of the dunes, and fish are holding around Goose Island. You will have to search shallow to deep to dial them in. Once you find one – work the area hard. The walleye are in transition – slowly moving out of the dunes as the Reservoir drops and the bait moves out. Best bet – troll #5 or #7 Flicker Shads in 8-15 feet of water on the face of the dunes and around Goose Island.

Several reports of big crappie being caught incidentally while fishing smaller crankbaits on the face of the dunes. The MarDon Dock fishing is coming on very strong with quality crappie, bluegill and perch. Largemouth bass in the 2-5-pound range have moved in under the dock. The dock fishing will continue to improve as the water level drops. Dock fishing is only available to registered guests staying at MarDon Resort.

The Channel Catfish and bullhead is as good as it gets! Fish around Goose Island, the face of the dunes, and up Crab Creek for Channel Cats up to 20 pounds!

The largemouth bass fishing excellent. Fish the dunes with SPRO Bronzeye Pop 60s, Rebel Pop-R’s and Zara Spooks for topwater action and Strike King square bill crankbaits in Bluegill or Perch patterns. There are good numbers of quality smallmouth bass in the dunes as well.  Bass fishing along the face of the dam has been good this past week for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Throw crankbaits, tubes, and 5” Kalin’s grubs for both.  

Ken Kernan, retired Grant County Under-Sheriff, caught his "personal best" Channel Catfish at 18.70 pounds! Ken was fishing Crab Creek when he caught the big cat.

 Blake Williams, age 13 of Pasco, WA with a 6.34 pound Largemouth! Blake was fishing a frog in the dunes when this big fish hit!

Father and son - Dennis and Mason Clark had a successful day on the Reservoir, catching quality Largemouth Bass, Channel Cats, and Crappie!

John and Susan Peegee from Tacoma, WA with a nice basket of dock Crappie and a nice Yellow Bullhead!