MarDon Fresh News – December 18, 2020
The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1039.60 feet – up 1.00 feet over the past 2 weeks. The water temperature on the Potholes Reservoir is in the upper 30s to low 40s. The weather has warmed up a bit and is forecasted to be in the mid to upper 40’s for the next several days. Throw in a little wind and the ice in the dunes will retreat.
Not a lot of people out fishing this past week.
Walleye fishing continues to be fair. Jigging ½ ounce blade baits, curl tail grubs, Whistle Pigs, and trolling worms behind a 2-ounce bottom bouncer on a slow death hook with a crawler. Fish in 18 - 30 feet of water. Mark fish on the humps in front of the dunes and drop your jigs down. Fish the face of the dam with ½ oz. blade baits and swim baits.
The largemouth bass fishing has slowed this week. Look for largemouth on the deeper humps in front of the sand dunes. Fish skirted hula grubs, tubes, ½ oz. blade baits, and 3 - 4” fluke baits on a 3/8 oz. jig head. In 18-28 feet of water.
Fish the rock piles around Goose Island, the face of the dam and the face of the sand dunes with Swimbaits, Ned Rigs, Hula grubs and drop shot lures for Smallmouth.
Not a lot of anglers targeting trout lately. Best bet - troll #7 Flicker Shad 100 feet off the back of the boat. Brighter colors seem to produce better. Troll at 2-2.5 mph. The Wicked Lures Trout Killer is another good option. Troll in front of the Potholes State Park. From shore – fish Medicare Beach with marshmallows and Powerbait and worms 18” off the bottom.
Crappie and Bluegill are still available on the main lake. Look for schooled fish over deeper habitat boxes on the humps in front of the sand dunes. Fish Baby Shads, DS Frys and Trout Magnets on a 1/32nd oz. tipped with a maggot vertically jigged or with a slip bobber. Mark your fish – not just the structure before you drop down!
Duck hunting has been a bit tough this week – we have had about a week of fog and calm. That finally broke and we hope this will bring in some new birdss. Mixed bags of Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, and Pintail are being reported.
Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest fishing and hunting reports and resort information at 509-346-2651.