FRESH NEWS: Excellent bass fishing this week

MARDON — The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1,030.3 feet — dropping 2 feet this past week. We are currently 3.80 feet above low pool. The water temperature on the main lake is right around 75 degrees. The water temperatures in the sand dunes are in the upper 70s to low 80s. 

As the water drops, the bait and bigger fish move out of the weeds into the main channels and to the sand dunes. Starting now — fish both on the face of the sand dunes and back in the dunes. 

The Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this week. Fish frogs early and late and always have a Senko rigged to follow up on missed fish. Fish back in the sand dunes. Throw half oz jigs, swim jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, frogs, and Texas-rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-12 feet of water. Lots of 1-3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4-5-pound range. The Largemouth and most species are moving out to the face of the dunes — but many bass will stay in the dunes year-round. 

The Smallmouth fishing has been good this week. Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, Senkos, spinner baits, drop shot rigs, blade baits, crankbaits and tubes. Fish the rock piles around Goose Island and along the face of the dam and up Lind Coulee. 

Walleye fishing has been improved this past week as they move from the weeds to the main channels and to the face of the sand dunes. Walleye can be caught casting into the weeds or trolling the channels. Fish in the sand dunes, face of the sand dunes, and up Crab Creek. Troll a slow death rig with a crawler at 0.8-1.2 mph or cast paddle tail swim baits, fluke baits, and hard jerk baits. Fish in 6-15 feet of water. Walleye are also being caught trolling crankbaits. Troll the main channels and the humps on the face of the sand dunes. 

Trout fishing has been fair. Troll No. 7 Flicker Shads or spoons 2-3 mph. Fish Medicare Beach or from MarDon Resort to Blythe Point. From shore, fish Medicare Beach with PowerBait or cast 5-foot single-tail grubs. 

The Seep Lakes south of the Potholes Reservoir are fishing well. The top trout lakes are Warden, Upper Hampton and Upper Goose. Use PowerBait 18 inches off the bottom or cast Rooster Tails. From a boat troll spoons and spinners. Long Lake is producing good catches of walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth and Perch. 

Reports of bluegill, crappie and some big perch are coming in from the sand dunes as well as on the humps in front of the dunes. Most fish are being caught incidentally by anglers trolling for walleye. Use a slip bobber and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or DS Fry along the channels and along the willows after marking the school on your electronics. Fish 6-15 feet. Also try trolling a No. 5 Flicker Shad in the channels. 

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Call the MarDon Resort tackle store for current conditions and fishing information at 509-346-2651.