MarDon Fresh News – October 5, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – October 5, 2018 

Fall is here, and fishing is good for all species in the Potholes Reservoir! The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1027.54 feet – dropping .04 feet this past week.  The water temperature on the main Reservoir is 59 degrees.  The water level should remain between 1027 and 1028 feet until they close the gates on October 22, 2018. It will begin to rise quickly after that.

The walleye fishing is becoming more consistent as the water cools. Fish the humps in front of the sand dunes and around the mouth of Crab Creek and the rocks off Gooses Island. Troll a Slow Death hook with a worm by itself or a Smile Blade/Slow Death rig behind a 2-ounce bottom walker around the deeper mid-lake humps in the 15-25-foot depth range. Bring lots of worms as many incidental catches of bluegill, crappie, bullhead and bass are being reported. Blade Baits are beginning to take fish as well.

 Largemouth and Smallmouth are doing well along the face of the dunes, and along the face of the dam. Some anglers are finding bigger fish in the 15-20-foot range. Top baits for Largemouth include – swim baits, spinnerbaits, crank baits, Wacky Rigged Senkos and Skirted Heart Throb XL’s fished on a 1/2 oz. football head and fishing a drop shot rig. Smallmouth are being caught on the rock piles off Goose Island and along the face of the dam as well as around the face of the dunes. Use Flicker Shads, 3½” tubes, swimbaits, drop shot baits and Senkos for the Smallmouth.

The trout fishing on the Potholes Reservoir is picking up with the cooler water temperatures. Trout fishers have been catching trout trolling #5 and # 7 Flicker Shads and Shad Raps and trolling Wedding Ring/crawler rigs.

The crappie fishing continues to be good throughout the Reservoir. Big crappies are being caught trolling #5 Flicker Shads and #5 Rapala Shad Raps along the face of the dunes, and jigging VMC Probe jigs and Wingding jigs on the deeper humps.  The MarDon Resort dock continues to hold fish.  Fish Trout Magnets and Gulp Alive Minnows off the dock on a 1/64^thoz. jig head. Big bluegills are being caught around the mouth of Crab Creek and along the face of the dunes.  A few perch are being caught off the dock and around Goose Island and the mouth of Crab Creek. Fishing from the MarDon Dock is reserved for registered guests only.

If you are a bird watcher – now is a great time to see the lesser Sandhill Cranes on their migration from Alaska back to California for the winter. Look to the skies early in the morning as they fly to the fields to feed and again in the evening returning to roost in the sand dunes. Take a drive around the fields between the Potholes Reservoir and Othello to spot them feeding.

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

Clayton Breckenridge and his father Bart from Battleground, WA caught some nice crappie, perch, walleye and bass on their annual fall trip to the Potholes Reservoir!