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Fishing has heated up this past week. Cooler days and cooler nights have radically cooled our water temperatures to a low 60-degree mark. The water level on Potholes Reservoir continues to slowly rise. On Oct. 20 the pool height on Potholes is 1032.90 elevation. The Potholes Canal will be shut off on Monday, Oct. 24. Once this happens the water level will rise very rapidly. This allows better boating access for fishers and duck hunters. Every fall this cooling enhances trout action for bank fishers at Medicare Beach. Limits are being reported on trout from 2l pounds to 5 pounds. Most anglers are using Power Bait and a night crawler. Some of the seasoned Medicare bank fishers use a mini marshmallow with a Pautzke Ball of Fire or a mini marshmallow with a night crawler on a size 6 bait hook. Soda Lake below O’Sullivan Dam also have some amazing rainbow trout. Bass action on Potholes Reservoir has been good for largemouth bass in the sand dunes and smallmouth bass on the face of O’Sullivan Dam near Goose Island.

Duck and goose hunting season is now open. Opening day, Oct. 15, started with a high-wind warning and heavy rain. We were very lucky to have milder weather than was forecast for the weekend. The groups that came to hunt with the Duck Taxi saw many teal widgeon, pintail and a few mallards. This Saturday, Oct. 22, pheasant season opens for our upland bird hunters.

The Royal Hunt Club is a great option to get access to private land for pheasant, goose or even duck hunting this season. A season pass will run $300 per hunter or you can buy a three-day consecutive pass for $125 per hunter. This land is in the greater Royal City Area and is roughly 25,000 acres. For more information please call (509) 346-2651 or email info@mardonresort.com.

To book a duck hunt on Potholes Reservoir with the Duck Taxi or a goose hunt please call (509)346-2651, or visit ducktaxi.com for more information.