MarDon Fresh News – July 1, 2021

MarDon Fresh News – July 1, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is at 1036.95 – dropping 1.65 feet over the past week. The water temperature on the main lake is in the mid-70s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the upper-70s to upper 80s. The temperatures will remain over 100 degrees for the next week or so – so come prepared. Fish early and late!

Trout: Trout fishing – remains good! 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. Fish early and late.

Walleye: The Walleye has bite is fair right now! Fish the weed lines in Crab Creek in 7-10 feet of water. You can pick fish up trolling Slow Death/Smile Blades/crawler combo in 6-12 feet of water along the weeds, or cast spinnerbaits, Optimum swimbaits, or Zoom flukes in the weeds and willows in 3-8 feet of water. Fish are also coming in from the Winchester drainage as well. 

With the water temps rising, some fish will start to move a little deeper. Fish shallower

early and late – then move to the 12–20-foot range if you are fishing throughout the mid-day.

Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good 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, Missile Baits Ned Bomb and #7 Rapala shad Raps in 4-25 feet of water depending on the time of day or night.

Largemouth Bass: Bass fishing is and will continue to be incredibly good back in the sand dunes. Start out frog fishing and then switch to sight fishing with a Senko or light jig as the frog bite drops off. This time of year, a variety of baits will catch bass back in the dunes. Top baits have been oz. Freedom Flipping Jig with a 4.00” WGT Mobster Craw trailer, swim jigs with a 4.25” Skull Fish, SPRO Poppin’ Frogs, 5” Senko, Z-Man Chatter Baits and Spinnerbaits. Fish 1-15 feet of water.

Panfish: Head in the willows back in the dunes for quality Bluegill and Crappies! Troll a Mepp’s spinner with a piece of worm to locate panfish, or sight fish them. Both Bluegill and Crappie are showing up in the weeds and willow back in the dunes. Vertically jig or use a slip bobber with a 1/32 oz head and a Baby Shad or DS Fry. Also throw small Mepp’s spinners or Rooster tails through the schools.

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

Events

• July 4th, 2021 Fireworks & Golf Cart Parade. Bring your golf cart, decorations and go all out for this popular Summer event. Fireworks to start at 10pm over the water.

• July 17-18, 2021 Shoot Out Tourney by Limit Out Marine. Pre-registration is strongly recommended, you can register via http://bigbasstrail.com/registration/, stop in either stores, or call (Pacific, 253-863-9973 or Spokane, 509-413-2787). Registration fees are $300 if paying by cash or check and $309.23 to pay via credit card or PayPal!

• Aug 28-29, 2021 Washington Bass Association & WA State B.A.S.S. Nation. Team Club Tournament/$80 per team, $10 Big Fish Option per day, $40 Big Stringer Option. Off limits Monday Aug. 23rd thru Thurs. Aug 26th/Practice Friday Aug. 27th.

Fishing Highlight

Cody Stentz shows a nice pair of Potholes Reservoir Largemouth caught while fishing the Northwest Bass Potholes Open sponsored by Nixon's Marine! These two fish helped Cody and his partner Andy Smith earn a 6th place finish out of a field of 80+ boats!

 

MarDon Fresh News – June 22, 2021

 

MarDon Fresh News – June 22, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is at 1038.60 – dropping .96 feet over the past week. The water temperature on the main lake is in the mid-70s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-70s to mid-80s.

The fishing will remain extremely good even though the temperatures have and will continue to rise over the next week and beyond. The fish will still eat – but for your best shot – fish very early – the sun is up around 4:30am – or fish late - last light is around 9:30pm! Now is a great time to think about night fishing. Get out after the sun is down and the air starts to cool. If you do head out at night make sure you have a good navigation system on board, lights, and all the necessary safety equipment. The water level is changing daily with the heat. All the techniques below are current - just have to fish early or late!

Trout: Trout fishing – remains good! 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 the Pillar Widgeon Chain 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 is good right now! Fish the weed lines in Crab Creek in 7-10 feet of water. You can pick fish up trolling Slow Death/Smile Blades/crawler combo in 6-12 feet of water along the weeds, or cast spinnerbaits, Optimum swimbaits, or Zoom flukes in the weeds and willows in 3-8 feet of water.

Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good 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, Missile Baits Ned Bomb and #7 Rapala shad Raps in 4-15 feet of water.

Largemouth Bass: Bass fishing is and will continue to be incredibly good back in the sand dunes. This time of year, a variety of baits will catch bass back in the dunes. Top baits have been   oz. Freedom Flipping Jig with a 4.00” WGT Mobster Craw trailer, swim jigs with a 4.25” Skull Fish, SPRO Poppin’ Frogs frog, 5” Senko, Z-Man Chatter Baits and Spinnerbaits. Fish 1-10 feet of water.

Panfish: Several reports of panfish coming in from the dunes. Perch are being caught back in the sand dunes! Troll a Mepp’s spinner with a piece of worm to locate them, then throw out a worm or vertically jig worms over the school.

Both Bluegill and Crappie are showing up in the weeds and willow back in the dunes. Vertically jig or use a slip bobber with a 1/32 oz head and a Baby Shad or DS Fry. Also throw small Mepp’s spinners or Rooster tails through the schools.

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

Mike Meseberg with a 13+ inch Crappie that was released back into the Potholes Reservoir in order to keep this fishery thriving!

MarDon Fresh News – June 16, 2021 (Event Special Edition)

 

MarDon Fresh News – June 16, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is at 1039.26 which is 7.42 feet below full pool – dropping .42 feet over the past week. The water temperature on the main lake is in the low 70s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-to upper 70s.

The fishing remains extremely good on the Potholes Reservoir for most species. Not much has changed since last week.

As the fish settle into their late spring – early summer patterns, fishing should remain good to extremely good for the next month or so for all species. Daily or weekly shifts in the fishing will be related more to the weather, than an overall pattern shift.

Trout: Trout fishing – remains good! 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 the Pillar Widgeon Chain 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 is good right now! Fish the weed lines in Crab Creek in 7-10 feet of water. You can pick fish up trolling Slow Death/Smile Blades/crawler combo in 6-12 feet of water along the weeds, or cast spinnerbaits, Optimum swimbaits, or Zoom flukes in the weeds and willows in 3-8 feet of water.

Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good 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, Missile Baits Ned Bomb and #7 Rapala shad Raps in 4-15 feet of water.

Largemouth Bass: Bass fishing is and will continue to be incredibly good back in the sand dunes. This time of year, a variety of baits will catch bass back in the dunes. Top baits have been   oz. Freedom Flipping Jig with a 4.00” WGT Mobster Craw trailer, swim jigs with a 4.25” Skull Fish, SPRO Poppin’ Frogs frog, 5” Senko, Z-Man Chatter Baits and Spinnerbaits. Fish 1-10 feet of water.

Panfish: Several reports of panfish coming in from the dunes. Perch are being caught back in the sand dunes! Troll a Mepp’s spinner with a piece of worm to locate them, then throw out a worm or vertically jig worms over the school.

Both Bluegill and Crappie are showing up in the weeds and willow back in the dunes. Vertically jig or use a slip bobber with a 1/32 oz head and a Baby Shad or DS Fry. Also throw small Mepp’s spinners or Rooster tails through the schools.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• June 26-27 Northwest Bass (northwestbass.com)

• July 4 Fireworks & Golf Cart Parade

• July 17 Shoot Out Tourney by Limit Out Marine

Terri Snider with a nice keeper walleye caught on the Potholes Reservoir!

MarDon Fresh News – June 10, 2021

MarDon Fresh News – June 10, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is at 1039.68 which is 6.82 feet below full pool – dropping 1.07 feet over the past week. The water temperature on the main lake is in the low 70s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-to upper 70s.

As the fish settle into their late spring – early summer patterns, fishing should remain good to extremely good for the next month or so for all species. Daily or weekly shifts in the fishing will be related more to the weather, than an overall pattern shift.

Trout: Trout fishing – remains very good! 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 the Pillar Widgeon Chain 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 is extremely good right now! Fish the weed lines in Crab Creek in 7-10 fet of water. 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. Several reports of anglers limiting by 10:00am coming in.

Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good 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, Ned Rigs. And crankbaits in 4-15 feet of water. Expect good numbers of 1–4-pound fish.

Largemouth Bass: Bass fishing is and will continue to be incredibly good 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, chatter baits and Spinnerbaits. Fish 1-10 feet of water.

Panfish: Several reports of panfish coming in from the dunes. Perch are being caught back in the sand dunes! Troll a Mepp’s spinner with a piece of worm to locate them, then throw out a worm or vertically jig worms over the school. Both Bluegill and Crappie are showing up in the weeds and willow back in the dunes. Vertically jig or use a slip bobber with a 1/32 oz head and a Baby Shad or DS Fry. Also throw small Mepp’s spinners or Rooster tails through the schools.

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

 

A young bass angler shows off a beautiful Potholes Reservoir Largemouth bass caught on a swim jig back in the sand dunes!

MarDon Fresh News – June 2, 2021 (Event Special Edition)

 

MarDon Fresh News – June 2, 2021

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is at 1040.75 which is 5.75 feet below full pool – dropping approximately 3.00” over the past week. The water temperature on the main lake is in the low 70s. The water back in the sand dunes is warming to the mid-to upper 70s.

Trout: Trout fishing continues to be very productive. 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 the Pillar Widgeon Chain 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 improved week. Most of the walleye have retreated to the sand dunes and are in the weeds, or along the weed edges. Fish the weed lines in Crab Creek in 7-10 feet of water. 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 continues to be good 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, Ned Rigs. And crankbaits in 4-15 feet of water. Expect good numbers of 1–4-pound fish.

Largemouth Bass: Bass fishing is and will continue to be incredibly good 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, chatter baits and Spinnerbaits. Fish 1-10 feet of water.

Panfish: Several reports of panfish coming in from the dunes. Both Bluegill and Crappie are showing up in the weeds and willow back in the dunes. This is a fun time of year for panfish back in the dunes. Cruise the dunes slowly with your trolling motor and use your polarized glasses to visually spot pods and schools of Bluegill and Crappies. Vertically jig or

use a slip bobber with a 1/32 oz head and a Baby Shad or DS Fry. Also throw small Mepp’s spinners or Rooster tails through the schools.

EVENTS:

June 6-7, 2021 WDFW Free Fishing Weekend!  fishing licenses are not required of anyone to fish in Washington.

June 5-7, 2021 Heroes Salute Weekend - Police, Fire, & Military Stay the 1st night at regular price and get the 2nd night FREE - Book now!

Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest Spring fishing report and information

at 509-346-2651

Alisha Swartout Stickel of Yakima with a beautiful Potholes Reservoir Walleye which was released right after the photo!