Fresh News Report Nov. 24th, 2017

MarDon Fresh News – November 24, 2017

The water level continues to rise and the water temperature is holding in the mid to lower 40’s on the Potholes Reservoir. The current water level is 1038.94 - .79 feet higher than this time last week. The Reservoir is expected to rise between .75 and 1.00 feet per week.

More anglers fished the Reservoir this week and were rewarded with nice catches of walleye and trout. The humps between Goose Island and Crab Creek are producing walleye up to 7 pounds. Best bet is to blade bait the humps in 20 feet in the morning moving to 35-40 feet as the day goes on. Fish ½ oz. blade baits in either silver or gold, or troll crawler harnesses on a 2-oz. bottom walker. The face of the dam is producing walleye, smallmouth and trout. Crankbaits, swimbaits, dropshot baits, and football heads with skirted hula grubs and blade baits are the top baits on the dam. Medicare Beach is producing is producing nice trout both from the beach with Power Bait and from a boat trolling Flicker Shads.

 This week has been decent for both duck and goose hunters. The Northern mallards are trickling in.  Mallards, Teal and Widgeon the main birds being taken. There are opportunities for geese in the fields as well. Mostly little birds right now, but numbers are good.

 Part of the Bowers party from Chehalis with several birds they got on a guided goose hunt with Levi Meseberg. The party ended up with 49 ducks and 14 geese! Call the MarDon Store for more information on guided hunts.

From Left to Right Jason Groskreutz, Rob Wysong, Payton Wyson, and Josh Plante of Spokane show a great morning's catch of Potholes Reservoir walleye. They used 1/2 oz blade baits in 20-35 feet of water.

Fresh News Report Nov 17, 2017

MarDon Fresh News – November 17, 2017

The water level is rising, and the water temperature is falling on the Potholes Reservoir. The current water level is 1038.15 – 1.37 feet higher than this time last week. The water temperature is in the low to mid 40’s.

Not a lot to report this week on the fishing side – not that the fish aren’t there – just not many anglers on the water this week. Best bet would be to work the face of the dam with crankbaits, swimbaits, dropshot baits, and football heads with skirted hula grubs and blade baits for smallmouth bass and walleye. Medicare Beach is producing is producing nice trout both from the beach with Power Bait and from a boat trolling Flicker Shads.  Also fish the deeper humps between Goose Island either trolling Slow Death rigs or vertically jigging ½ - ¾ oz. Flash Blades for walleye.

This week has been very productive for both duck and goose hunters. The Northern mallards are continuing to arrive.  Teal and Widgeon are also being taken. There are opportunities for geese in the fields as well. Mostly little birds right now, but numbers are good.

Johanna Bolling caught this nice Rainbow trout this week on Medicare Beach!

 Tyler Inderbitzen after a successful hunt - four geese and a limit of mallards!

MarDon Fresh News – November 3, 2017

The water level is rising, and the water temperature is falling on the Potholes Reservoir. The current water level is 1034.50 – two feet higher than this time last week. The water temperature is 50-52 degrees.

The walleye fishing has been decent with several limits coming in. The mouth of Crab Creek and the mid lake humps off of Goose Island have been the most productive spots. The walleye have moved a bit deeper and are now concentrated in the 20-30 foot depth range. Troll a Slow Death hook, with or without a Smile Blade and half a crawler behind a 2-oz. bottom walker. Silver ½ oz. blade baits are doing well for walleye and bass as well.

Crappie fishing continues to be very good both from the MarDon Dock and out on the main lake. Fish the humps off the face of the dunes in 15-20 feet of water. Drop shot a 1-1/2”-2.0” Gulp Minnow, or nose hook it on a 1/32^nd or 1/16^th oz. jig head. The MarDon dock is producing limits of crappie to 12 inches.

Bass fishing for both Largemouth and Smallmouth has been good across the Reservoir. Top spots have been the face of the dam, Goose Island, and the face of the dunes. Fish football heads and hula grubs, crankbaits, drop shot baits, and 5” grubs on a 3/8 oz. jig head. The face of the dam has been producing quality Smallmouth bass.

The trout fishing is picking up on the Reservoir. Troll Flicker Shads for both trout and walleye. Fish the seep lake with Rooster Tails and Power Bait floated off the bottom. Medicare Beach has been the top spot for trout this past week.  Top lakes for trout have been Soda Lake and Long Lake.

Duck hunters have been bringing in limits of local birds. Some mallards are starting to show and with the colder weather in the forecast, the birds should be moving in soon.

Russ Anderson shows a 7lb Largemouth bass he caught off the MarDon Dock.

Russ released this lunker after the pic!

Barb Brady, Deena Viezke and their husbands Steve and Dale caught a nice stringer of walleye off the face of the dunes and around Goose Island. Blade Baits were the ticket!

A nice crappie caught off the face of the sand dunes!

Jackie Oakland caught these nice rainbow trout fishing on Medicare Beach from her lawn chair. She only fished for an hour and a half!