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!