MarDon Fresh News – March 19, 2021

MarDon Fresh News – March 19, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1042.47 feet dropping .09 feet from last week and is 4.03 feet below full pool. The water temperature on the Potholes Reservoir is on the rise with main lake temperatures in the low to mid 40s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the low 50’s by most afternoons and cooling to the mid 40’s at night.

Trout: Not a lot of reports for trout coming from the Reservoir itself – yet. The Reservoir trout fishing should be picking up quickly. Try trolling #7 Flicker Shads in front of the Potholes State Park and at the mouth of Lind Coulee to Perch Point. From Shore fish Medicare Beach with Berkley PowerBait or Marshmallows and worms.

Corral and Blythe Lakes have been producing keeper sized trout and a few holdovers. From shore use Rainbow PowerBait and a 1/8-1/4oz egg sinker with a leader long enough to keep it above the weeds. From a Boat troll Dick Nite’s or small spoons behind Pop Gear.

Walleye: The Walleye fishing has been good this past week. They are just now beginning to stage for the spawn. They are spread out depth-wise. Fish the rocks around Goose Island with Blade Baits, Whistle Pigs, and Drop Shot rigs in 30-43 feet of water or slow troll a crawler with a Slow Death rig. Lind Coulee has been producing smaller male fish in 18-25 feet of water. Use the same techniques listed above.

Smallmouth Bass: Try for Smallmouth bass along the face of the dam and the rocky area between Goose Island and the dam. Use a drop shot rig with a DS Minnow or jig a Blade Bait in 25-35 feet of water.

Largemouth Bass: The bass are moving into the sand dunes! Reports are coming in of catches of largemouth up to 6.87 pounds with a lot of 3–5-pound fish being reported. The afternoon bite is much better than the morning bite at this time based on the water temps warming in the afternoon and dropping through the night. Find the warmest water you can!

Top baits have been jigs with a craw or swimming trailer in black and blue, hard jerkbaits, swim jigs, and chatterbaits.

Panfish: No reports have come in yet for Crappie, Bluegill or Perch – still a little early.

Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest Spring fishing report and information at 509-346-2651 – things quickly change this time of year!

Brody Gleich from Yakima with a nice Potholes Reservoir Largemouth Bass caught from shore in the sand dunes! Brody caught this fish on March 14th!