MarDon Fresh News – May 3, 2019

MarDon Fresh News – May 3, 2019 

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1044.20-feet – up .4 feet from last week. The water should continue to rise for the next several weeks to reach full pool of 1046.5 feet. The water temps back in the sand dunes are running in the low 60’s. The water temps on the main Reservoir remain in the mid-50s.

The Largemouth bass fishing remains very on the Potholes Reservoir as well as in the smaller Seep Lakes. Fish the sand dunes with ½ oz jigs and craw trailers, Swim Jigs, Chatter Baits, Punch Rigs and chartreuse Spinnerbaits. Fish in 1-10 feet of water along willow lines. There are Smallmouth back in the sand dunes and around the rocks around Goose Island. Fish Finesse jigs, Wacky Rigged Senkos, Crankbaits, and Swimbaits for the Smallmouth

Walleye fishing has been a bit slow this past week due to a cold front that came through and the fish are finishing up their spawning cycle and dispersing throughout the Reservoir. The walleye fishing should pick up this week with warming temps and stabilizing weather. Fish lower Lind Coulee, Crab Creek and up the Winchester flow with Smile Blades/Super Death Hooks/2 oz bottom walker and ½ a crawler. Troll from .8-1.2 miles per hour. 

Trout are being caught off Medicare Beach both from shore and by boat. Bank fisherman are using Power Bait, worms and marshmallows, a 12-18” leader, and a 1/8-1/4 oz. egg sinker above the swivel. Boat anglers are trolling Needlefish spoons, #7 Flicker Shads and shallow running Rapalas. Trout fishing in the Seep Lake has been very good this past week. Top Lakes have been the Hamptons, Warden Lake, Corral Lake and the Widgeon – Pillar Chain. Top Baits have been Worms and marshmallows, Berkley Powerbait, Rooster Tails, and Berkley Mouse Tails.

A big shout to the Washington Bow Fishing Association for braving some nasty weather to help remove some carp from the Potholes Reservoir during their Carp Shoot! The carp move into the shallows and destroy the spawning process of other game fish. The winds were high and visibility low, but they still managed to remove some carp from the Potholes Reservoir.

No reports on Perch, Crappie or Bluegill yet – off the MarDon dock or out in the main Reservoir. We only need a week or two of the good weather to get the panfish going.

The fishing is improving daily - call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Lucky Smith from Ephrata with a Potholes Reservoir carp shot during the WBA Carp Shoot this past weekend.

A nice bucket of carp removed from the Potholes Reservoir.