Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

We are seeing the water level continuing to rise, giving more access to the back part of the dunes. More Mallards are showing but the bulk of the success is for Widgeon and Teal and other mixed ducks. We have had some very windy days but it does not effect most of the larger boats. Mornings start out cold but by mid morning you will warm up. So far the pass conditions have been good but that will be changing soon.

Walleye fishermen are finding that by locating under water humps and marking the top with your GPS and then backing about the distance of a long cast. Use a blade bait and cast to the top of the hump and free spool to the bottom. Once on the bottom then lift you rod and pick up the slack. Anything that might feel odd set the hook. It could be a Walleye picking up your bait. Circle the hump seeing just what side might be holding. After 20 t0 30 minutes move on to the next hump until you locate fish.

Bass fishermen are still catching bass off the face of the bam using weightless Senkos or split shot fishing grubs. Also crank bait are working.

On the bad side the WDFW is considering removing limit, both size and quantity of perch, crappie and bluegill. All these species are recovering from the mountain ash that covered the lake bottom from Mount St. Helens. That covered spawning beds and all insect along with habitat that provides protection small fish. Small fish are the food base for most all fish in the lake. With artificial habitat each year put in the lake the crappie, bluegill and perch are recovering. Now these species are growing up to a spawning age the no limit proposed can make these 3 lakes soon without fish to catch. On Facebook check out Save Our Limits.

Submitted by Tom Pollack (retired)