MarDon Fresh News – May 26, 2021

MarDon Fresh News – May 26, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is at 1041.08 which is 5.42 feet below full pool. The water temperature on the main lake is in the low to mid 60s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-60s to the low 70s.

Trout: Trout fishing has been very good this week. Several reports of limits made up of 2 - 5-pound trout have been coming in. Troll a #7 Flicker Shads, Wee-Gee spoons, and Needle Fish spoons in front of the Potholes State Park and at the mouth of Lind Coulee to Perch Point. Troll in 15- 30 feet of water. From shore fish Medicare Beach with Berkley PowerBait or marshmallows and worms.

Warden Lake, Lowers Hampton, and Windmill Lake have been the top producing Seep Lakes. 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 Nites or small spoons behind Pop Gear. Fly fishing a black #10 Bead Head Leech has been very productive as well.

Walleye: The Walleye has bite has been hit and miss this week. Most of the walleye have retreated to the sand dunes and are in the weeds, or along the weed edges. You can pick fish up trolling Slow Death/Smile Blades/crawler combo in 6-12 feet of water along the weeds, or cast spinnerbaits, weedless swimbaits or flukes, and Chatterbaits in the weeds and willows in 3-8 feet of water.

Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth bass fishing has improved this week! Fish for Smallmouth bass along the face of the dam and the rocky area between Goose Island and the dam. Use a 4” wacky rigged Senko in 4-15 feet of water. Expect good numbers of 1–4-pound fish.

Largemouth Bass: Bass fishing is great back in the sand dunes. This time of year, a variety of baits will catch bass back in the dunes. Top baits have been jigs with a craw or swimming trailer, swim jigs, topwater frog, 5” Senko, and chatter baits. Fish 1-8 feet of water.

Panfish: Several reports of panfish coming in from the dunes. Crappie are being caught on several habitat boxes on the face of the sand dunes. Vertically jig or use a slip bobber with a 1/32 oz head and a Baby Shad or DS Fry.

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

Jordan and Brandon Doucet took first place on day 1 - hour seven in the Limit Out Marine Potholes Big Bass Tournament with a 5.17 pound Largemouth Bass!

 

MarDon Fresh News – May 21, 2021

 

MarDon Fresh News – May 21, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is at 1041.15 which is 5.35 feet below full pool. The water temperature on the main lake is in the low to mid 60s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-60s to the low 70s.

We have been getting a lot of questions from anglers regarding the water level on the Potholes Reservoir. I just had a highly informative conversation with the Bureau of Reclamation. There is no plan on changing the way the water is managed through the system, including the Potholes Reservoir. It boils down to the lack of snowfall/rain fall over the

past two years in the Columbia Basin and north to the Lake Roosevelt area.

This year the land started off at 65% of normal water saturation which means there is extraordinarily little to no reclamation of water back to the Reservoir from irrigation at this point. The moisture in the soil is the worst it has been in 50 years according to the Bureau. While the areas North and West of us received 100% plus snowpack, the South and

East, including the Basin did not.

Some good news – normally the Bureau shuts off the gates feeding the Potholes Reservoir in mid-June. This year they plan on feeding the Reservoir all season long. The water level is likely to remain fairly constant – in the 1041.15-foot level but should not drop much for some time. We need a year or so of normal precipitation to allow the Bureau to manage the water as they have in previous years.

Trout: Trout fishing has been good this week. Troll a #7 Flicker Shads, Wee-Gee spoons, and Needle Fish spoons in front of the Potholes State Park and at the mouth of Lind Coulee to Perch Point. Troll in 15- 30 feet of water. From shore fish Medicare Beach with Berkley PowerBait or Marshmallows and worms.

Warden Lake, Lowers Hampton, and Windmill Lake have been the top producing Seep Lakes. 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. Fly fishing a black #10 Bead Head Leech has been very productive as well.

Walleye: The Walleye has bite has been decent – as long as you have a bit of a breeze. Most of the walleye have retreated to the sand dunes and are in the weeds, or along the weed edges. You can pick fish up trolling Slow Death/Smile Blades/crawler combo in 6-12 feet of water along the weeds, or cast spinnerbaits, weedless swimbaits or flukes, and Chatterbaits in the weeds and willows in 3-8 feet of water.

Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth are turning on. Fish 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, blade baits and 3.50” tube baits in 10-25 feet. 5” Yamamoto curl tail grubs on a . to 3/8th ounce jig head have been catching fish as well.

Largemouth Bass: Bass fishing is great back in the sand dunes. This time of year, a variety of baits will catch bass back in the dunes. Top baits have been jigs with a craw or swimming trailer, swim jigs, topwater frog, 5” Senko, and chatter baits. Fish 1-8 feet of water.

Panfish: Several reports of panfish coming in from the dunes. We have had reports of both incidental Crappie and Bluegill catches from folks trolling for walleyes. Crappie have also been caught on several habitat boxes on the face of the sand dunes. Vertically jig or use a slip bobber with a 1/32 oz head and a Baby Shad or DS Fry. We are getting close to being able to target the panfish!

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

Garry Sandstrom of Tacoma, releasing a chunky Rainbow trout while fly fishing one of the many Seep Lakes just south of the Potholes Reservoir!

MarDon Fresh News – May 14, 2021

 

MarDon Fresh News – May 14, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1041.07 feet rising .05 feet from last week and is now 5.43 feet below full pool. The water temperature on the Potholes Reservoir is in the lower 60s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-to upper 60s. The Reservoir is starting to fill slowly as they are releasing water form Moses Lake.

Trout: The trout fishing this week has been fair on the Reservoir. Average 2–5-pound trout are being caught on the face of the sand dunes and along Medicare Beach. Troll #7 Flicker Shads, Wee Gee Spoons, and Wicked Lures Trout Killers 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.

Warden Lake, Lower Hampton, Windmill and Corral Lake are the top producing Seep Lakes this week. Fish on the bottom with PowerBait, Marshmallows and eggs, or worms on the bottom. Use a 1/8th-1/4 oz egg sinker with an 18-24” leader or cast Rooster Tails from shore. You can also do well using a bobber and worms or eggs. From a boat troll Dick Nite Spoons, bobber fish or still fish on the bottom. Corral and Blythe Lakes have continued to produce 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 tough this week compared to last week. The fish are in the normal spots – just not biting very good. The walleyes are moving into the mouth of Crab Creek and into the sand dunes. Fish the deeper channels in – and on the face of the dunes in 10-18 feet of water trolling a Slow Death rig and worm behind a bottom bouncer. Bigger fish are being caught further back in the dunes in 4-10 feet of water by anglers fishing swimbaits, swim jigs, chatter baits, and flukes.

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. Fish the sand dunes with spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Ned rigs for the shallower Smallies.

Largemouth Bass: The Largemouth bass fishing continues to be good back in the sand dunes. The spawn is on with both Smallmouth and Largemouth bedding up. Good numbers of 1–3-pound fish are being reported. Top baits have been jigs with a craw or swimming trailer in black and blue, hard jerkbaits, swim jigs, and chatterbaits, and topwater baits such as

frogs and poppers.

Panfish: No reports of panfish coming in this week. Look for crappie, perch, and bluegills back in the sand dunes in the willows in 6-10 feet of water. Fish a DS Fry or Bobby Garland Baby Shad under a slip bobber.

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

Alexander from the Westside caught this beautiful Potholes Reservoir walleye while on a guided trip with Levi Rodello of Ross Outdoor Adventures! 

MarDon Fresh News – May 7, 2021

MarDon Fresh News – May 7, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1041.02 feet rising .24 feet from last week and is now 5.42 feet below full pool. The water temperature on the Potholes Reservoir is in the lower 60s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-to upper 60s. The Reservoir is starting to fill slowly as they are releasing water form Moses Lake.

Trout: The trout fishing this week has been fair on the Reservoir. Average 2–5-pound trout are being caught on the face of the sand dunes and along Medicare Beach. Troll #7 Flicker Shads, Wee Gee Spoons, and Wicked Lures Trout Killers 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.

Warden Lake, Lower Hampton, and Corral Lake are the top producing Seep Lakes this week. Fish on the bottom with PowerBait, Marshmallows and eggs, or worms on the bottom. Use a 1/8th-1/4 oz egg sinker with an 18-24” leader or cast Rooster Tails from shore. You can also do well using a bobber and worms or eggs. From a boat troll Dick Nite Spoons, bobber fish or still fish on the bottom. Corral and Blythe Lakes have continued to produce 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 to excellent this past week. The walleyes are moving into the mouth of Crab Creek and into the sand dunes. Fish the deeper channels in – and on the face of the dunes in 10-18 feet of water trolling a Slow Death rig and worm behind a bottom bouncer. Bigger fish are being caught further back in the dunes in 4-10 feet

of water by anglers fishing swimbaits, swim jigs, chatter baits, and flukes.

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. Fish the sand dunes with spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Ned rigs for the shallower Smallies

Largemouth Bass: The Largemouth bass fishing continues to be good back in the sand dunes. The spawn is on with both Smallmouth and Largemouth bedding up. Top baits have been jigs with a craw or swimming trailer in black and blue, hard jerkbaits, swim jigs, and chatterbaits, and topwater baits such as frogs and poppers.

Panfish: Several reports of crappie have come in this week. Look for crappie back in the sand dunes in the willows in 6- 10 feet of water. Fish a DS Fry or Bobby Garland Baby Shad under a slip bobber.

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

Robby Harbin of MarDon Resort shows one of five - 4 plus pound largemouth bass caught on the Potholes Reservoir this past week!