MarDon Fresh News – May 11, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – May 11, 2018

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1045.88 feet- about one foot up from last week. The water temperature on the main Reservoir is at 67 degrees and in the upper 60’s to low 70’s back in the sand dunes.

MarDon Resort hosted a successful Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic which is part of the Ranger Cup Walleye Circuit. A big congratulation to Brad Phillips and Ty Whitaker for a 1^st Place finish, weighing 16.30 pounds Day 1 and 20.34 pounds on Day 2 for a winning total of 36.64 pounds! Congratulations to Shelby and Tanys Ross of Ross Outdoor Adventures for winning the Cool Under Pressure honors standing in 42^nd Place after Day 1 with 5.72 pounds and climbing 33 spots on Day 2 with 17.32 pounds for a 9^th Place finish overall. The Ross’ received $500.00 for their Day 2 effort – they then turned around and donated the winnings back to the CWFAC’s Habitat Restoration Project on the Potholes Reservoir – Thank you Shelby and Tanys! Big Fish on Day 1 was brought in by Heath Brown and Steve Marquardt weighing 6.35 pounds. Day Two Big Fish and Big Fish of the tournament was caught by Jordy Mac and Skyyler Grant weighing 6.64 pounds – awesome job!  There were 53 boats this year, 427 walleye were caught, and the average weight was 2.25 pounds.

This was an awesome event and it is one of several events that benefit the Central Washington Fish Advisory Committee’s habitat restoration efforts. Check out www.cwfac.org to see how you can get involved in ensuring and improving the future fishing on the Potholes Reservoir.

The Largemouth fishing has been very good this past week with anglers reporting large numbers of fish up to six pounds. Most fish are being caught back in the sand dunes. Use a variety of baits to figure out the bite – Senkos, Chigger Craws - Texas Rigged, Punch Rigs, Jigs, and Spinnerbaits have all been productive. The fish are just starting to bed up. Some smallmouth are being caught in the sand dunes, off Perch Point and along the face of the dam. Use crankbaits and 3 ½” tubes for the Smallmouth.

The walleye fishing has been fair to good this past week. The walleye have finished up their spawning activities and are making their way back into the main Reservoir and into the dunes to begin their recovery and begin feeding again. The fishing should improve over the next several weeks.  Fish are being caught trolling Slow Death rigs with Smile Blades and Butterfly Blade rigs as well as traditional spinner/crawler harnesses. Fish Lind Coulee, Medicare Beach, Crab Creek and the sand dunes for the walleye.

 Trout are being caught in the Seep Lakes on Glitter Mallows, Power Bait, and or worms.  The top lakes have been Soda, and Upper and Lower Hampton Lakes. The crappie are back in the brush in the sand dunes spawning and a few good schools of crappie in the 9-12” range have just arrived at the MarDon Dock! Pete Fisher, manager of the MarDon Resort tackle store caught 25 crappie between 9-12” in about 90 minutes – all fish were released. Use a 1” Berkley Gulp Minnow in Black Shad, Smelt, or Luma Glow on a 1/80^th -1/32^nd ounce jig head.

Only registered guests of MarDon Resort able to fish off the dock.

Call the MarDon Store for the latest fishing info and to make reservations at 509-346-2651.

Wayne and Bill Conley of Moses Lake getting ready to blast off at the Rod Mesesberg Spring Walleye Classic. Bill still loves to fish out his Ranger walleye boat with his son. Mr. Conley is 84 years young!

Pete Fisher of MarDon Resort with a nice crappie caught off the MarDon Resort dock!

Shelby and Tanys Ross had a great day two in the Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic, climbing 33 spots to receive the Cool Under Pressure honors!