MarDon Fresh News – December 13, 2019

MarDon Fresh News – December 13, 2019

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1040.00 - up .60 feet from the previous week. The water continues to cool with main lake temps in the upper 30’s– and the sand dunes are in the low 30’s with ice forming. 

There is not a lot fishing pressure on the Reservoir currently – but if you brave the cold, fog, and wind – you can do pretty well on trout, walleye and smallmouth bass fishing deeper water.

The bass fishing is slowing with the cooler water temps and the fish are moving deeper. Slow your presentation down or fish reaction baits like Blade Baits. Fish the 20-40-foot range. Fish the face of the sand dunes with a ½ oz. football head jig coupled with a hula grub, ½ oz. Blade Baits, Tubes and Drop Shot baits. The Smallmouth bass are being found on the face of the dam and on the rock piles around Goose Island – as well as on the face of the sand dunes. Fish Booyah finesse jigs, Crankbaits, Tubes and drop-shot DS Minnows for the Smallmouth.

 The walleye fishing is fair with the majority of walleye being caught on 1/2oz. Blade Baits and Whistle Pigs. Fish the face of the sand dunes in front of the West Arm and Crab Creek, Lind Coulee, and the face of the dam in 20-40 feet of water. Mark fish on the humps in front of the sand dunes and vertically jig. 

For trout - fish Medicare Beach to the Mouth of Crab Creek and in front of the State Park. Troll Gibbs Wee G Spoons, Wicked Lures Trout Killers, Needlefish spoons, #7 Flicker Shads and Shad Raps at 2.5 - 3.0 mph.  Use leaded line with 3-colors out or troll with a 2 oz. banana sinker. Set the drag light as the average trout is 2-5 pounds and can break the line on the initial strike.

The Crappie and Bluegill have gone deeper with the cooler water temps but can still be caught. Fish the face of the dunes and in the mouth of Crab Creek.  Locate schools with your electronics and then anchor up and drop Bobby Garland Baby Shads and Trout Magnets or worms on a slip bobber in 20-30 feet of water. 

Duck hunting has been a fair this week – with not much coming down in the way of new birds. Goose hunting has been very good with a mix of Snow Geese and darker geese.

The MarDon store has a good supply of decoy weights, twine, and shotgun shells for your duck hunting!

 Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Jerry Han and his buddy Jon Crawford of Kennewick, WA enjoyed a cold - but productive day of trout and walleye fishing! The large walleye was released after the pic!