MarDon Fresh News – November 22, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – November 22, 2018 

 The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1037.36 feet – rising .46 feet this past week.  The water level has come up 10.65 feet since low pool on September 14, 2018. The water temperature on the Reservoir has dropped to the low 40s over the past week. Ice is forming in the shallower water in the sand dunes up to an inch thick.

Very few anglers on the water this week. Blade bait and jigs are your best bet for walleye this time of year. Vertically jig blade baits or a jig head with a 4 or 5” curl tail grub in 25-50 feet of water. Look for deeper humps and habitat boxes.

 A few bass are being caught on the humps in front of the dunes and along the face of the dam. Hula grubs, Drop Shot rigs, Blade Baits and swim baits in 5-20 feet of water are the baits to throw for both Largemouth and Smallmouth bass. Fish habitat boxes and along the face of the dam. For Smallmouth – fish the face of the dam and the rocks around Goose Island.

Trout anglers are concentrating on the Medicare beach area either trolling wedding ring rigs with a worm or Needlefish. From shore - fish Power Bait or a marshmallow/egg combination.

We had a good push of birds come into the area this past week with several groups limiting on ducks back in the sand dunes. There are a lot of geese in the area as well.

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

Levi Meseberg with the ACI Group out of Coeur d'Alene after a successful goose hunt this week!

MarDon Fresh News – November 16, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – November 16, 2018 

 The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1036.9 feet – rising 1.60 feet this past week.  The water level has come up 9.44 feet since low pool on September 14, 2018. The water temperature on the Reservoir has dropped to the mid-40s over the past week.

With duck and goose hunting in full swing there are very few anglers on the water. With the colder water temps the blade bait and jig bite will improve for walleye. Vertically jig blade baits or a jig head with a 4 or 5” curl tail grub in 25-50 feet of water. Look for deeper humps and habitat boxes.

 Largemouth and Smallmouth fishing can be very good this time of year. Throw crankbaits, jerk baits, hula grubs and Drop Shot rigs in 5-20 feet of water. Blade baits work well deeper bass this time of year. Fish habitat boxes and along the face of the dam. For Smallmouth – fish the face of the dam and the rocks around Goose Island.

Trout anglers are concentrating on the Medicare beach area either trolling wedding ring rigs with a worm or Needlefish. From shore - fish Power Bait or a marshmallow/egg combination.

The crappie and bluegill have slowed a bit – but can still be caught. Fish the humps along the face of the dunes and mid-lake. Watch your fish finder to mark fish and jig VMC Probe jigs, Wingding jigs, Trout Magnets and Gulp Minnows on the deeper humps.  

The colder weather is bringing new birds down to the Potholes area. There are a lot of ducks back in the Sand Dunes.  There is still time to join the Royal Hunt Club. You will receive a pass that allows you to hunt pheasant and other upland game birds on approximately 25,000 acres of private land. Cost is $300.00 per hunter. The proceeds will go to the Royal City Booster Club

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

Mason Meseberg - 8-years old - got his first Goose on November 10, 2018!

Wyatt Smith shows a nice mid-November Largemouth Bass from the Potholes Reservoir! 

MarDon Fresh News – November 9, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – November 9, 2018 

 The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1035.3 feet – rising 2.00 feet this past week.  The water level has come up 8.59 feet since low pool on September 14, 2018. The water temperature on the Reservoir is right around 50 degrees.

The walleye fishing is fair to good. Fish the mid-lake humps in front of the sand dunes, the face of the dam, 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 20-50-foot depth range. Jig Blade Baits and 5” curl tail grubs along the face of the dam.

 Largemouth fishing is doing well on the face of the dunes and along the face of the dam. Deeper diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and skirted hula grubs have been the top producing baits for largemouth. If targeting smallmouth, fish the face of the dam and the rocks around Goose Island with a deeper diving jerk bait, crankbaits, drop-shot rigs and blade baits.

The trout have become more active and available with the cooler weather. Trout anglers have been catching trout trolling # 7 Flicker Shads and trolling Wedding Ring/crawler rigs off Medicare Beach.

The crappie and bluegill fishing continue to be productive throughout the Reservoir. Fish the humps along the face of the dunes and mid-lake. Watch your fish finder to mark fish and jig VMC Probe jigs, Wingding jigs, Trout Magnets and Gulp Minnows on the deeper humps.  

The MarDon Resort dock continues to do well for keeper crappies. Fish Trout Magnets and Gulp Alive Minnows off the dock on a 1/64^thoz. jig head. Fishing from the MarDon Dock is reserved for registered guests only.

There have been plenty of ducks back in the Sand Dunes despite the milder temps. With colder weather on the way – new birds should be moving down. There is still time to join the Royal Hunt Club. You will receive a pass that allows you to hunt pheasant and other upland game birds on approximately 25,000 acres of private land. Cost is $300.00 per hunter. The proceeds will go to the Royal City Booster Club

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

Limits from the sand dunes on the Potholes Reservoir on Nov 4, 2018! From left to right: Levi and Mason Meseberg and Britt and Joel Wardenaar Royal Slope.

MarDon Fresh News – November 2, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – November 2, 2018 

 The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1033.3 feet – rising 3.81 feet this past week.  The water temperature on the main Reservoir is in the low 50’s. As the water rises many of the rock hazards around Goose Island will not be visible – use extreme caution when navigating between the island and the face of the dam.

The walleye fishing has been good this past week. Fish the mid-lake humps in front of the sand dunes, 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 15-30-foot depth range. Blade Baits are coming into play as the water temp drops.

 Largemouth fishing is doing well on the face of the dunes and along the face of the dam. Deeper diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and skirted hula grubs have been the top producing baits for largemouth. If targeting smallmouth, fish the face of the dam and the rocks around Goose Island with a deeper diving jerk bait, crankbaits, drop-shot rigs and blade baits.

More trout are being caught 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 off Medicare Beach.

Channel Catfish and Bullheads are being caught throughout the Potholes Reservoir. Fish worms or Catfish Magic on the bottom in Lind Coulee and at the mouth of Frenchman’s Wasteway.

The crappie and bluegill fishing continue to be very good throughout the Reservoir. Fish the humps along the face of the dunes and mid-lake. Watch your fish finder to mark fish and jig VMC Probe jigs, Wingding jigs, Trout Magnets and Gulp Minnows on the deeper humps.  

The MarDon Resort dock continues to do well.  Fish Trout Magnets and Gulp Alive Minnows off the dock on a 1/64^thoz. jig head. Fishing from the MarDon Dock is reserved for registered guests only.

Duck hunting has been fair with mixed bags of Mallard, Teal, Pintail, Widgeon and Gadwalls being reported. 

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

Pete Fisher of MarDon Resort with a nice fall Potholes Reservoir Largemouth!