FRESH NEWS: Largemouth, smallmouth, trout fishing good, walleye fair

MARDON — The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1042.10 feet — dropping 1.20 feet this past week. The water temperature on the main lake is right around 65 degrees. The sand dunes are in the mid to upper 60s after a warmer past week.   

The largemouth bass fishing continues to be good. Fish back in the sand dunes. Throw half-ounce black & blue jigs, swim jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, frogs and Texas-rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-12 feet of water. Most fish have finished spawning.

The smallmouth have about finished up their spawn.  Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, Senkos, spinnerbaits, 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 fair this past week.  The walleye are in the weeds back in the sand dunes and up Crab Creek. Troll a slow death rig with a crawler at .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.

Trout fishing has been good. 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.

The Seep Lakes south of the Potholes Reservoir are fishing well for trout. Top 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.

The crappie and bluegill are finishing up their spawn. Use a slip bobber and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or DS Fry along the channels and the willows. Fish 6-15 feet. Also try trolling a No. 5 Flicker Shad in the channels.

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

    Michael Ghosn caught this 19-pound Potholes Reservoir Channel catfish while fishing for bass in the sand dunes.