September 1, 2017

The water level is currently at 1026.70 – 18.60 feet lower than high-pool back in May.  The water will hold at this level 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 improved this past week both in quality and quantity.  Troll the face of the dunes over the humps between Frenchman’s Wasteway and the mouth and Crab Creek. Fish are holding 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. Most catches of big crappie are incidental while fishing for bass and walleye. The water is low enough now that you can locate the habitat boxes on your graph.  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 continues to be outstanding! 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.  

Wannie Pearson with a nice Potholes Reservoir walleye!

Mason Meseberg with a keeper crappie caught off the MarDon dock while fishing a Trout Magnet.