Guides and Tours are available. A typical bass fishing setup will be a medium action rod with a 10-15 pound braid. 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. The usual crappie jigs and other small lures that imitate minnows will do the job here. 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. Lind Coulee has been one of the best spots for walleye this spring, but the bite is picking up all over Potholes Reservoir. Bring the family for a vacation, and everyone will find something they love to do here. Bullheads are everywhere these days, including both brown and yellow bullhead catfish. While both school up, perch are more of an open water fish than crappie. Yellow perch, crappie and bluegill populations have declined in recent years so anglers may find smaller and fewer fish to harvest. At times, the population of yellow perch at Potholes Reservoir is impressive, though the fish might run on the small side when they are so abundant and sizes can be larger when numbers are down. Kayak angling is an excellent option for getting into the shallower areas at the back of the reservoir. There is also a chance to catch bluegill, common carp, yellow perch, black crappie and lake whitefish throughout the year. Grab your 5- or 6-weight rod and as many bass poppers as you can because the sand dune islands supply great action. We launched out of the state park and motored over to fish some humps out in front of the dunes. Start out trolling with a worm harness equipped with some Smile Blades, or if youâd rather, troll some Flicker Shad instead. 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. That said, bluegill are great fighters for their size and, if they are around, they are fun and easy to catch for kids and anyone else. In the spring, Potholes is often one of the first walleye lakes in the region to become productive since it is relatively smaller than … Try this area and fish the wooden structure. 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. That is a great day of fishing. Anglers have reported catching over 20 smallmouth around the islands on the main lake in under an hour. The lake is famous for trophy bass, walleye and rainbow trout as well as providing a perfect destination for water enthusiasts. Here are some more techniques and helpful tips for yellow perch fishing. Shelby lives on Potholes Reservoir and has guided for walleye and waterfowl on the lake for years. “Like” us on Facebook. You can literally watch the bait the entire retrieve as well, so youâll see the bass hit it. Trout fishing is tougher in the summer, but you might pull in a few in the deeper and cooler waters closer to the dam. Small hooks with natural bait such as a garden worm or piece of nightcrawler will do the trick, usually fished near the bottom. We suggest you use a 7-foot rod, either spinning or casting, and make sure it has enough backbone to handle a big bass. Try the mouth of the canal at sunset. Part of an episode of Angler West TV. Equip it with a reel of your choice and a 10-12 pound braid. Like Banks Lake, they offer a unique fishing environment, from the shallow waters of Moses Lake to the sandy dunes area of Potholes Reservoir. Potholes Reservoir Fishing Reports The most consistent fishing depth during daytime is … Recent fish surveys also picked up some more desirable channel catfish at Potholes. However, a productive forage fish population leads to an abundance of trophy-sized walleye. MarDon Resort close by also has good boat and bank access for anglers. Watching the water explode as a bucket mouth smacks the jig is one of the best adrenaline rushes. Potholes best season starts up in March and continues into June. Senkos do well, and if the fish are being selective, toss them a black and blue or green pumpkin-colored Ned rig. The closer you can get to the rock structures, the better youâll do. Two-pole fishing is allowed Good for ice fishing Beautiful Potholes Reservoir fishes until ice on. When scouting locations, search for forage fish holding on drop-offs and ledges. 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. Suppose you are new to using bass poppers. 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. There’s an excellent video on the Dave Graybill Channel on You Tube on pre-spawn walleye fishing that Eric Granstrom and I … They have all the amenities of home. There are so many outdoor activities that you can do here. If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit Tackle, Guides, Charters We also have access to private lakes groomed for trophy catch and release largemouth bass. These toothy critters arenât the most aggressive biters, so you need a rod with a sensitive, fast action tip. Learn effective techniques for walleye with guide, Shelby Ross and Bob Loomis of Mack's Lure along with Raith & Todd. While most walleye here measure out in the teens, on occasion, there also have been some giants pulled out during this time. Look for ambush-style cover, and youâll find largemouth bass. Until the ice is off the lakes and the walleye start there pre-spawn staging. Read up in the fishing regulations, because there are limits (though still generous) for the three major panfish species at Potholes Reservoir. A fast-action 7 ½-foot or 8-foot rod would work well. Monday, December 28, 2020 - You can probably tell that I am really excited about two fisheries that we can take advantage of this winter. Green pumpkin color works well through here. Surface water temperature is in the upper Lind Coulee are 48 degrees. While popular in their native waters, whitefish get less respect here in the Northwest, and they don’t draw a ton of attention at Potholes Reservoir, even compared to other regional lakes like Banks Lake and Billy Clapp Lake, where populations are higher and targeting them is more popular. Fishing, bird watching, kayaking, stand up paddle-boarding, swimming, and the list goes on. That could be why there are walleye tournaments held here throughout the year. If you are planning on staying for an extended time, check out the private rentals available nearby. There have been multiple reports of it being fast action on summer evenings. They will attack these pretty regularly. But an unusually high percentage is 4- to 8-pound lunkers. The Wicked Lures Trout Killer can pick up quite a few walleyes as well. Target the Crab Creek area, Lind Coulee and around the sand dunes area. The water temperature on the Potholes Reservoir is on the rise, reaching 44-48 degrees in the sand dunes. Black and blue jigs with crawfish trailers pitched into the willows can bring some exciting action. These work great in perch coloring. There are multiple businesses around the area to rent boats, kayaks, canoes and other small watercraft. Donât miss the Frenchmanâs Canal at the end of the state park. WDFW fishing and stocking reportsWDFW fishing regulationsNational Weather Service forecasts. Another area to target is from the front of the sand dunes all the way to the Job Corps Dike. BJ'S GUIDE SERVICE, LLC. A straight shot east on I-90 from Seattle takes you right to our next pick on the list, … Once you find them, probably the easiest approach to catching bluegill is simply fishing a worm, mealworm or cricket under a bobber near hiding places. Potholes Reservoir is one of the waters on which we conduct our annual Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) surveys. Walleye in Potholes often hold just below ledges and drop-offs. The walleye in Potholes grow big from eating the abundant smaller fish found throughout the lake. 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. At the age of 14 he was running his parents boats all over the lake chasing walleye, bass, … 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, you’ve found it at Potholes. The other prominent panfish found at Potholes are bluegill, although they get relatively little attention here. I can’t make Walleye fishing easy, but I can make it easier for you to start fishing Walleye. If it gets cold enough for the waterway to freeze, yellow perch, walleye, and rainbow trout fishing are excellent. Most every day all boat launches have been full , fishing for walleye, perch and bass. Tournament-sized fish are in here waiting for the right presentation. 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. Work the weed lines in about 15 to 20 feet of water. The islands found in the main lake will offer fast smallie action, so target the usual hard cover areas and have fun. Learn how to adjust to a beautiful, calm summer day for some great walleye fishing on Potholes Reservoir with guide, Shelby Ross. Baitcasters are great here for the extra accuracy. MarDon Resort on the west end of O’Sullivan Dam (near the state park) is another prime destination for serious anglers. The warmer temperatures are already improving the fishing for trout, bass and walleye. The main trick is simply finding a school of filleting-sized perch, but if you do, you’re in business. Potholes experiences a summer/fall draw down as irrigation draws water from the lake to support local agriculture. Consider Ross Outdoor Adventures for your next Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake, or Banks Lake fishing adventure. Walleye Fishing for Beginners. April, May and June can produce very good action for walleyes, and the fall bite (mid September through October) can be good, too. 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. The basic approach to catfishing is to chuck a worm or other bait out and wait for the bite. 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. Crappie are found in good numbers up Crab Creek around the beaver lodges. However, if prepared properly given their bony structures, they can be excellent eating and are sold in fish markets elsewhere. Walleye fishing on Potholes with BJ & Dave. An excellent way to check is to try and catch some perch. 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. There are some special regulations for some of the Pothole lakes, so be sure to check on the state regulations page to make sure you stay within the law. Walleye fishing has begun in the Lind Coulee arm of Potholes Reservoir. Potholes Reservoir is rightfully famous for its excellent fishing for walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Using the right setup for walleye is critical. David and Bryan had a good day fishing on Potholes with BJ. The Potholes Reservoir is part of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. 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. 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. Attach a barrel swivel to the braid and then a short section of 10-15 pound mono to the worm harness or blade bait. 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. The usual trout-fishing techniques including trolling and bait fishing will work at Potholes. At times they will run deeper and bite in cooler weather compared to crappie. Be aware that the reservoir was built for irrigation, so the water levels drop off throughout the summer. Potholes Reservoir is fed by Crab Creek that runs out of Moses Lake a few miles away. With Raith & Todd for a vacation, and if the fish are in here waiting the... In addition to walleyes, Potholes freezes providing an excellent option for getting the. 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