MarDon Fresh News – January 4, 2019

MarDon Fresh News – January 4, 2019

 The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1040.77 feet – rising just under one foot over the past two weeks. The water level has come up 14.06 feet since low pool on September 14, 2018.  The water temperature on the Reservoir is in the low mid-30s. The Potholes Reservoir is ice free at this point but there is some ice back in the denes and many of the smaller ponds are iced over.  The forecast is for high temps in the low to mid 40s this week – so the ice may leave the dunes this week.

We have had several reports of decent fishing off Perch Point and around Medicare Beach. Anglers a catching some walleye, crappie and trout in 20-30 feet of water. Blade bait and jigs are your best bet for walleye this time of year. Vertically jig blade baits or a fish a ½ oz. jig head with a 4 or 5” curl tail grub in 25-50 feet of water. Fish the deeper humps on the face of the dunces and the rocks around Goose Island. Fish the face of the dam with 5” swim baits for both walleye and Smallmouth bass. Use your fish finder to mark fish and drop down to them. Reports of 

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.

There are plenty of ducks in the area – but the mild weather can make the hunting unpredictable. Limits of Mallards are coming from Frenchman’s Wasteway and some of the other wasteways in the area. The lack of ice is making it more difficult to pattern the birds. One hunter has limited by 9:30am three days in a row. The goose hunting is excellent with tremendous numbers of birds in the area.

Duck Taxi trips and several guided goose hunts available. Call the MarDon tackle store for available dates.Call the MarDon Store for the latest fishing and hunting info and to make reservations at 509-346-2651.

The Robinson-Pittman party show an 11-man goose limit on a guided trip with Levi Meseberg on Royal Slope! The party consisted of hunters age 17-74!

Lane Robinson of Coeur d'Alene Idaho with a nice goose. Lane was mentored by his father Brett Robinson and "uncle" Drew Pittman to hunt and fish. His passion and skill level has landed him an outstanding opportunity to guide for  Billy Chapman's Anglers Inn International on Lake Coeur d'Alene!