";s:4:"text";s:21147:"In that case, the idea is to make a ton of commotion and noise, making the bass think something is desperately trying to get away. April, May and June can produce very good action for walleyes, and the fall bite (mid September through October) can be good, too. Potholes State Park on the southwest side of the reservoir has some excellent coverage for largemouth as well, so make a run over there if the other areas arenât panning out. The water temperature on the Potholes Reservoir is on the rise, reaching 44-48 degrees in the sand dunes. Potholes Reservoir is another lake located in Grant County, Washington. We suggest you use a 7-foot rod, either spinning or casting, and make sure it has enough backbone to handle a big bass. With the restrictions on salmon fishing this is a very good option. From fishing to waterskiing, almost every water sport you may want to participate in is available. For closer access to the sand dunes area, there’s a boat launch off Perch Point straight across the big reservoir from the state park. Shelby lives on Potholes Reservoir and has guided for walleye and waterfowl on the lake for years. The drive from Yakima takes around an hour and a half and a just a little longer from Spokane. It doesn’t stop there at Potholes, which also has pretty good trout fishing, at times very good panfish angling, and several other species to hook. The north end of the lake is littered with little sand dunes that are surrounded by brush, trees and beaver lodges. Lake whitefish native to the upper Midwest have populated much of the Columbia River and its interconnected reservoirs over the years. Potholes Reservoir has several public and private launches around it, though mostly on the developed south side on either side of the dam. Youâll definitely lose a few flies along the way to snags and have to replace some dulled hooks, but itâll be worth it once you pick up a largemouth bass. When there is safe ice, itâs as if a switch gets flipped to on, and trout and perch become super active. Walleye can be a challenging fish to target, but that’s what makes them so enticing. If you are searching for a place to catch a trophy-sized bucketmouth or two and then score a few of the best-eating fillets in freshwater, youâve found it at Potholes. There are so many outdoor activities that you can do here. Bullheads are everywhere these days, including both brown and yellow bullhead catfish. Whether you target largemouth or smallmouth, there is a place for you at Potholes. Smoking or canning whitefish is usually the way to go. There are three secrets to catching walleyes (at least): fish on the bottom; fish slowly; and use night crawlers. That could be why there are walleye tournaments held here throughout the year. Smallmouth are everywhere in the main lake. While it's about as far from a walleye secret as you can get, Potholes is too good to leave off the list. They have all the amenities of home. Consider Ross Outdoor Adventures for your next Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake, or Banks Lake fishing adventure. To spare the pint-sized trout from being bass and walleye chow right out of the gate, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and MarDon Resort have a cooperative project in which many of those trout are raised to a bit under legal-sized fish in net pens at the lake before release in the spring. When scouting locations, search for forage fish holding on drop-offs and ledges. Good to excellent walleye fishing can be found in several sections of the lake. Some Video clips I took of My dad and I and our friend Dick catching some potholes reservoir walleye on march 28th 2011. A short drive in either direction, Moses Lake and Othello are at least big enough to have Walmarts and other stores, so any amenities you may really need on your trip can most likely be found there. Potholes Reservoir is rightfully famous for its excellent fishing for walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The FWIN methodology was developed in Ontario, Canada as a means of monitoring a wide variety of biological parameters in Walleye populations in a standardized fashion using gill nets. Target the Crab Creek area, Lind Coulee and around the sand dunes area. Most every day all boat launches have been full , fishing for walleye, perch and bass. Walleye fishing. Specializing in professional guided walleye fishing trips in Washington State for over 30 years! For bullheads in particular, it shouldn’t take long, and they will show up on your hook when you fish bait for other species as well. This lake is man-made and was created as part of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. Most Read Sports Stories Be aware that the reservoir was built for irrigation, so the water levels drop off throughout the summer. The usual trout-fishing techniques including trolling and bait fishing will work at Potholes. Small hooks with natural bait such as a garden worm or piece of nightcrawler will do the trick, usually fished near the bottom. These large reservoirs offer some of the great walleye fishing in Washington! Monday, December 28, 2020 - You can probably tell that I am really excited about two fisheries that we can take advantage of this winter. To find Potholes Reservoir enter the 46.982365 latitude, and -119.29113 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. There should be some slabs in there. According to a recent WDFW survey, almost 60 percent of the fish in this Columbia Basin landmark are walleyes averaging 15 inches and 1.6 pounds. At times the crappie fishing will be easy right off the fishing pier at MarDon Resort. WDFW fishing and stocking reportsWDFW fishing regulationsNational Weather Service forecasts. The Lind Coulee Arm is generally the go-to spot for safe and productive ice fishing at Potholes. Attach a barrel swivel to the braid and then a short section of 10-15 pound mono to the worm harness or blade bait. Baitcasters are great here for the extra accuracy. BJ'S GUIDE SERVICE, LLC. Start out trolling with a worm harness equipped with some Smile Blades, or if youâd rather, troll some Flicker Shad instead. The 28,000-acre reservoir was created by building the OâSullivan Dam, which is the longest earthen dam in the country. Fish Management Considerations, WDFW ; Until 1985, statewide regulations for walleye fishing were simple: a daily limit of 15, of which no more than five could exceed 20 inches. The 28,000-acre lake in Central Washington stays open year-around and is home to Walleye fishing, Bass fishing, Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill. Walleyes stay close to the bottom, and they do not spend a lot of energy chasing their food. Oh, and in case you didnât know, Potholes has some pretty great walleye fishing of its own. They will attack these pretty regularly. That is a great day of fishing. Target the shelf and troll around 0.8-1.0 mph in the spring. Food can be found at one of the many restaurants and stores around the area. Black and blue jigs with crawfish trailers pitched into the willows can bring some exciting action. During most winters, Potholes freezes providing an excellent opportunity for anglers to fish for perch, crappie, and walleyes through the ice. Learn effective techniques for walleye with guide, Shelby Ross and Bob Loomis of Mack's Lure along with Raith & Todd. In the spring, Potholes is often one of the first walleye lakes in the region to become productive since it is relatively smaller than … Another area to target is from the front of the sand dunes all the way to the Job Corps Dike. Crappie are found in good numbers up Crab Creek around the beaver lodges. The Wicked Lures Trout Killer can pick up quite a few walleyes as well. In the spring, Potholes is often one of the first walleye lakes in the region to become productive since it is relatively smaller than systems like Lake Roosevelt and Banks Lake. There are ample camping opportunities all around the lake, plus RV parks and hotels in nearby towns. Read up in the fishing regulations, because there are limits (though still generous) for the three major panfish species at Potholes Reservoir. I guide Walleye in the Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt during the winter months. Learning how to catch Walleye is a life long pursuit. The other prominent panfish found at Potholes are bluegill, although they get relatively little attention here. ! Potholes Reservoir is rightfully famous for its excellent fishing for walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Work the weed lines in about 15 to 20 feet of water. MarDon Resort close by also has good boat and bank access for anglers. Walleye fishing on Potholes with BJ & Dave. Subscribe to Receive Fishing Report Updates Rating - Good The water on the Potholes Reservoir has warmed up to 44 degrees on the main lake and several degrees warmer than that farther back in the dunes. The southern end is loaded with rocky structures that smallmouths rule. Potholes Reservoir is fed by Crab Creek that runs out of Moses Lake a few miles away. Spinnerbaits, Senkos, chatter baits and frogs are all excellent options for flipping and pitching into cover throughout this area. The humps found out in front of the sand dunes, and the rock piles in front of the dam are great for smallies as well. Due to its east side location, itâs pretty far from Seattle. MarDon Resort on the west end of O’Sullivan Dam (near the state park) is another prime destination for serious anglers. Bass are abundant in Potholes. An excellent way to check is to try and catch some perch. After reading several of Dave's reports about the hot fishing at Rufus Woods Reservoir for big, fat triploids, I had to try it myself. In January, walleye … Like Banks Lake, they offer a unique fishing environment, from the shallow waters of Moses Lake to the sandy dunes area of Potholes Reservoir. The warmer temperatures are already improving the fishing for trout, bass and walleye. These are killer in flooded coverage. Senkos do well, and if the fish are being selective, toss them a black and blue or green pumpkin-colored Ned rig. Equip it with a reel of your choice and a 10-12 pound braid. Other fish you might hook at Potholes Reservoir include common carp a couple species of sucker. The lake is famous for trophy bass, walleye and rainbow trout as well as providing a perfect destination for water enthusiasts. Potholes Reservoir is located about five miles south of the city of Moses Lake off Highway 262, depending on the part of the reservoir you’re going to. Walleye. Target the sand dunes and Crab Creek areas for bucketmouths. The canal holds lots of large and smallmouth. Walleye fishing has begun in the Lind Coulee arm of Potholes Reservoir. Largemouth fishing can bring in some good sizes, with a good number of fish in the 2- to 4-pound range as well as some bruisers. Potholes is littered with drop-offs, so find one that has a lot of small fish around. They can be caught in good numbers on the hard deck, along with the occasional walleye or other species mentioned in this article. Potholes Reservoir is open year round. Grab your 5- or 6-weight rod and as many bass poppers as you can because the sand dune islands supply great action. Learn more about fishing for bluegill and other sunfish species. Headed over to Potholes on Saturday morning to check out the walleye fishing. If you can see any rock coverage, you are likely to catch a bass. The Lind Coulee Arm has several very good boat launches easy to reach from O’Sullivan Dam Road (Highway 262), though part of that area tend to be heavily used by the power sport people. You also can fish a variety of other waters in the area, including Moses Lake for more walleye and other warmwater fishing and the incredible number of Seep Lakes just south of O’Sullivan Dam for loads of trout in small water. The best trout fishing at Potholes Reservoir tends to be in the cooler months, with very good fishing possible from mid-fall through winter and into the early part of spring. Don’t miss Northwest fishing news! We also have access to private lakes groomed for trophy catch and release largemouth bass. Owner Shelby Ross has … PREMIUM WALLEYE FISHING ON MOSES LAKE, BANKS LAKE, AND POTHOLES RESERVOIR!!! Watch for fallen branches and trees in the water, and you may get into some of the bigger buckets in there. Watching the water explode as a bucket mouth smacks the jig is one of the best adrenaline rushes. It takes roughly three hours from there. The best time for these species is mid-summer through fall. Most anglers find success with Walleye and Bass. Moses Lake. Remember to fish deep and slow for walleye. Lind Coulee has been one of the best spots for walleye this spring, but the bite is picking up all over Potholes Reservoir. Two-pole fishing is allowed Good for ice fishing The most consistent fishing depth during daytime is … There are some big fish hiding out among the branches and beaver lodges that are throughout the sand dunes area. Potholes Reservoir Fishing Reports Leigh Ann ended her Potholes trip with these 2 walleye in addition to her monster from earlier in the day! A typical bass fishing setup will be a medium action rod with a 10-15 pound braid. A straight shot east on I-90 from Seattle takes you right to our next pick on the list, … But early in the 1980’s, as pressure increased on the fish, biologists began to notice a drop in the quality of fish caught in Roosevelt Lake, (the state’s top walleye producer). In addition to walleyes, Potholes has a good population of perch, crappie, smallmouth, largemouth, and bullheads. At times they will run deeper and bite in cooler weather compared to crappie. Anglers have reported catching over 20 smallmouth around the islands on the main lake in under an hour. Potholes Reservoir Fish Species Potholes Reservoir provides good opportunities for walleye, rainbow trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. At the age of 14 he was running his parents boats all over the lake chasing walleye, bass, … There’s an excellent video on the Dave Graybill Channel on You Tube on pre-spawn walleye fishing that Eric Granstrom and I … Potholes best season starts up in March and continues into June. It is located south of Moses Lake and is fed by water from Moses Lake which is part of the Crab Creek Reservoir. When the ice burns off and you’re itchin’ to hit the lake here’s a few tips from the master himself that will put some early season walleye in your frying pan this spring. Potholes State Park has camping areas and rustic cabins for rent, plus good amenities for anglers. Potholes Reservoir is a 28,000 acre man-made lake contained by O’Sullivan Dam, which is the longest earthen filled dam in the United States. Your chances of limiting out on decent-sized walleye is quite good in the spring and fall. There is also a chance to catch bluegill, common carp, yellow perch, black crappie and lake whitefish throughout the year. I have had some pretty good walleye fishing so far on Potholes Reservoir, and Moses Lake and Banks Lake will turn on very soon. Suppose you are new to using bass poppers. The E-Letter will be dedicated to these waters. Recent fish surveys also picked up some more desirable channel catfish at Potholes. Targeting the rockpiles around Goose Island in the southern part of the reservoir is a great place to try for bass with crankbaits, swimbaits and plastics, and you might pick up some walleye here in the process as well. “Like” us on Facebook. Potholes Reservoir and Moses Lake have the best walleye in April, when the fish are coming off their yearly spawn. In fact, Moses Lake drains directly into Potholes Reservoir. You can also head up Linde Coulee, the big finger at the southeast side of the reservoir, in the spring and fall for some great opportunities. However, a productive forage fish population leads to an abundance of trophy-sized walleye. Where the perch go, so do the hungry walleye. The first two of these are the most important. The islands found in the main lake will offer fast smallie action, so target the usual hard cover areas and have fun. Try this area and fish the wooden structure. Walleye Fishing: Simple Techniques and Tips, techniques and helpful tips for yellow perch fishing, fishing for bluegill and other sunfish species. I can’t make Walleye fishing easy, but I can make it easier for you to start fishing Walleye. Here are some more techniques and helpful tips for yellow perch fishing. The city of Moses Lake has all the amenities you may need, and that upper lake also has excellent walleye fishing. Look for ambush-style cover, and youâll find largemouth bass. The Potholes Reservoir is part of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. The closer you can get to the rock structures, the better youâll do. The main trick is simply finding a school of filleting-sized perch, but if you do, you’re in business. Donât miss the Frenchmanâs Canal at the end of the state park. The walleye in Potholes grow big from eating the abundant smaller fish found throughout the lake. Try tossing them a bubblegum trick worm on a 3/0 hook. September through December can be great too. The reservoir hosts almost weekly bass tournaments throughout the summer so that pressure can be high on weekends. Potholes is considered by many to be one of the best bass fisheries in the Pacific Northwest, especially among locations with good numbers of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Streamers work well by the islands in the main lake, with smallmouths the likely catch. Potholes experiences a summer/fall draw down as irrigation draws water from the lake to support local agriculture. Ned rig the closer you can do here short section of 10-15 pound braid deeper and bite cooler. 8-Pound lunkers Mack 's Lure along with the occasional walleye or other species mentioned in article... ’ re in business due to its east side location, itâs pretty far from a walleye as! And Jonathon had a good population of perch, black crappie and bluegill populations have declined in years... Eating the abundant smaller fish found throughout the summer a summer/fall draw down Irrigation... 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