Walleye, Bass promise an eventful Fourth
Courtesy photo Raylie and Raegan Wardenaar, both of Royal City, with two big Walleye.
MARDON RESORT - Ready or not here comes the Fourth of July 2011 edition.
The water level on Potholes Reservoir has dropped rapidly of late, with the elevation above sea level at 1,042.30 feet, roughly a foot and a half lower than last week. This leaves the reservoir almost 4 feet below full pool.
Walleye fishing has been great lately in the Lind Coulee arm of Potholes Reservoir plus in the sand dunes. The Crab Creek channel has really turned on, along with the west arm by "Big Dune" producing fish.
Walleye action has been reported as shallow as 9 feet to 20 feet in these areas of Potholes. Slowly bottom bouncing a nightcrawler harness has been the ticket to big Walleye. The Bass and Panfish action is picking up as the water is receding, concentrating the fish and making them easier to locate.
Largemouth and Smallmouth up to 5 pounds have been reported on the beloved topwater baits in all areas of the dunes. Matching the retrieve speed of the topwater bait to the activity level of fish has been producing huge surface strikes.
Fishing off the MarDon Resort Dock is also heating up with increasing water temperatures, with many Bluegill being taken and some big Smallmouth being landed. As the reservoir lowers, the dock fishing will only be getting better.