Fresh News from MarDon

Irrigation season has come to an end and the Potholes Canal has been shut off.  Now Potholes Reservoir will rise very rapidly.  Giving waterfowl duck hunters and fishers much better access to the sand dune area.  (Always use extreme caution when boating in the sand dunes in Potholes Reservoir.)  We continue to have daily reports of walleye limits.   With our recent rain most eastern Washington residents are hiding inside tying lures and it never ceases to amaze me how fishers from the West Side of our state don't hesitate to enjoy a day outside rain, wind or shine. 

Jumbo crappie 12 inches and larger have been caught by many fishers trolling at the mouth of Crab Creek and the face of the sand dunes using walleye tactics.  Sand dune bass fishers are reporting good largemouth action from the Crab Creek Area, Goose Island, and the face of O'Sullivan Dam.  The Lind Coulee is also showing some nice smallmouth bass action.  One group of bass anglers enjoyed a catch and release bass trip on Tuesday where they caught and released 62 large-mouth up to 4 pounds. 

Recent storm fronts have provided good waterfowl action in the sand dunes with a good hatch of local birds.  We are beginning to see small numbers of early flights of birds from the North.  Possibly from as far North as Brewster, Washington.  Last weekend hunting was tough on the lake with a calm day with no wind and sunny blue bird conditions.  This week we are experiencing normal temperatures for this time of year with some rain and wind so hunting conditions will only improve from last weekend.  We have witnessed on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge on Royal Lake, the first of the Northern Migration with arctic Lesser's and some Northern Canadian Geese beginning to show.  We are also seeing groups of over 50 Snow Geese in the Royal Slope Area.  We have also seen some cacklers that will move out of our area with the first frigid temperatures. 

Pheasant Hunting is now open and if you are looking for some land access for a fee you might consider joining the Royal Hunt Club.  It offers 28,000 acres of farm land donated for fee hunting options.  This land runs along the Royal Slope area and you can look at a map by stopping by the MarDon Office during 9am-6pm daily.  You can either purchase a season pass or you can purchase a 3 day pass, the price for a season pass is $300 for the year and a 3 day pass will run you $120.  For more information please call (509) 346-2651.