Trout, Bass, and Walleye action heating up at Potholes Reservior

MARDON RESORT - Spring fishing patterns are beginning in Central

Washington and the Potholes Recreation Area.

Bass fishers are reporting surface water temp's above 50 degrees

in the shallow areas of the sand dunes. Largemouth over 6lbs have

been reported using "Flippin Jigs" in the dunes. Smallmouth over

4lbs have been reported using drop shot tecniques and 1/2 oz blade

bait near Goose Island.

MARDON RESORT - Spring fishing patterns are beginning in Central Washington and the Potholes Recreation Area.

Bass fishers are reporting surface water temp's above 50 degrees in the shallow areas of the sand dunes. Largemouth over 6lbs have been reported using "Flippin Jigs" in the dunes. Smallmouth over 4lbs have been reported using drop shot tecniques and 1/2 oz blade bait near Goose Island.

Walleye bite was good all winter. Trollers using spinners and crawlers in the Lind Coulee Arm of Potholes Reservoir have been having some luck with mostly small walleye in the 12"-20" range. Blade baits near Goose Island and just off the face of the dunes continue to produce quality walleye to 26".

Trout Action has been very good at Upper Goose Lake for boaters. Bank fishing at Upper Goose is quite limited due to the steep cliffs around the lake. 12"-16" rainbow are most available trolling everything from a Flatfish, Rooster tail, Mepps Spinner or a Wedding Ring on a Double Whammy tipped with a crawler. A powerbait and night crawler combination on a size 6 baithook is the best bet for bank fishers.

Seep Lakes Corral Lake and Blythe Lake are open year round and are a great place to find shelter on a windy day! Soda, Long and Crescent Lakes are starting to produce walleye and smallmouth bass. The Seep Lakes of the Potholes Canal System will only improve with warmer weather.On April 1st the lakes on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge will open for public fishing.

Hutchinson and Shiner Lakes.The Department of Fish and Wildlife created a wonderful warm water fishing option working with private land owners to build a Seep Lake Fishery. Bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie, perch and catfish were planted in Hutchinson and Shiner Lakes over ten years ago. No outbourd motors are allowed which makes this a special fish catching experience. Warden Lake opens on April 30, 2011. Warden Lake will recieve 300 triploid trout this spring. These special trout average 1lb. 8oz. and they grow rapidly.

Birding in the Basin

This last weekend finished up another successful Sandhill Crane festival. As always we helped out by facilitating birding tours on the reservoir. This year was an exceptionally unique year with some rare bird sightings for our area. Some of the unique species recorded were Brant, 1500 snow geese, numerous white front or speckled belly geese and eared grebes. All of these birding tours left the Mar Don Marina and covered the majority of Potholes Reservoir. We were fortunate to have decent weather with clear and sunny skies and calm spring winds. If you are not familiar with the Othello Crane Festival check out the web site at www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org