FISHING REPORT: Largemouth fishing excellent, smallmouth good at Potholes

MARDON — Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this week. Fish top water baits early and late and have a Senko or C-tailed worm rigged and ready to follow up on missed fish. Throw 1/2-ounce skirted jigs, swim jigs, chatter baits and Texas-rigged plastics. Fish in 1-20 feet of water. Lots of 1- to 3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4- to 5-pound range. Anglers have also been reporting catching channel cats in the shallows while targeting largemouth.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good this week. Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, 4-inch Senkos, drop shot rigs, lipless crankbaits and tubes. Fish the rock piles around Goose Island and along the face of the dam and up Lind Coulee.

Walleye fishing has remained decent this past week but as the water temperature rises expect the walleye bite to slow. Most of the walleye have been found in the weeds along center channel and Crab Creek and were caught on bottom bouncers and worm harnesses.

Reports of bluegill, crappie and some big perch are coming in. Use a slip bobber and a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or Trout Magnet along the channels and along the willows after marking the school on your electronics. Fish 6-22 feet. Also try trolling a No. 5 Flicker Shad across the face of the sand dunes.

The Seep Lakes south of the Potholes Reservoir are fishing well. Top trout 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. Long Lake is producing good numbers of walleye, largemouth, smallmouth and perch.

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1037.25 feet, falling 1.62 feet this week. Water temperatures range from 70 to 75 degrees depending on where you are on the reservoir. 

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