As we approach the last weekend in July 2012 the water level on Potholes Reservoir remains amazingly high!! This ensures our future fishing with tons of baitfish and fry swimming around in the sand dunes and the massive vegetation growth on Potholes Reservoir. Anglers and water sports enthusiasts are finding 75-80F degree water temperatures and a 1,038.8 water elevation, roughly 8 feet low. Many primary channels in the dunes still have 4-10 ft. of water in them. Remember to always use extreme caution when boating in the sand dunes on Potholes Reservoir. Many more sand dunes are completely out of the water and ready for a day in the sand and sun enjoying the water.

The MarDon Resort dock is behind schedule however some Bluegill, Crappie, and Perch have been getting caught with the occasional jumbo Bass or Trout. As usual O'Sullivan Dam is putting out tons of small Smallmouth Bass. Deep trolling at Medicare Beach and the mouth of Frenchman's Wasteway has been producing Rainbow Trout to 4 lbs. this week. Trolling Luhr-Jensen Needlefish and Rapala Shad Raps around the 20-40 ft. range have been the hot ticket.

This past weekend the American Bass Tournament was held on the lake bringing 33 boats the first day and 21 boats the second day. The top five results for each day are as follows; Day one was won with 19.43 lbs. by Jordan Doucet and Chad Eidson. Second place Paul and Gene Schmitz 18.82 lbs., third place Don Hogue and Ryan Brown 17.21 lbs., fourth place Jeff Grimes and Johnny Williams 16.59 lbs., fifth place Nick Barr and Mike Goodwin 15.35 lbs. Day Two winners were Don Hogue and Ryan Brown bringing in a 19.08 lb. bag of Largemouth. Second place was filled by Clint and Jake Johansen with 18.35 lbs., third place Levi and Mike Meseberg 17.02 lbs, fourth place Ron Hobbs Jr. and Mike Wolsky 17.01 lbs., fifth place Mark and Walker Dawson 15.41 lbs. There are many patterns to catching the bass, with no anglers reporting any bait working better than another.

Hampton Lake in the Seep Lakes area has been vacant for three weeks; take a float tube or a small boat to the beautiful Columbia Wildlife Refuge below O'Sullivan Dam to fish untouched lakes for species ranging from Rainbow trout, Perch, Walleye, to Largemouth Bass. Fish in the morning until about 10 a.m. to avoid too much Vitamin D, then enjoy a nice lunch with Lisa and Rusty Johnson at The Beach House at Mardon. Come out and play before the summer is gone!

Our annual "Beach Party and Poker Run" is coming August 25! Come out and enjoy the biggest Poker Run event in Central Washington on the one and only Potholes Reservoir. You can win some serious cash and prizes and enjoy a great party. More information and registration is available by calling the resort at (509) 346-2651 or going online at www.MarDonResort.com

Share our Facebook page with your friends and have them "LIKE" our page and you can win a free night stay and a guided fishing trip with Nick Barr! Or a weekend stay camping and four free Poker Run Tickets! Visit out Facebook page and share it with your friends, whoever has the most friends like our page by the August 20 deadline wins!