we were on the potholes water at sunrise, ran north, and started fishing well into the west-side dunes. channels between the dunes are easily discernable now, as the annual irrigation drawdown is well underway. water depths were 8 to 15 feet with lots of fish showing up on sonar, and plenty of carp on the surface. but nothing bit, so we then trolled walleye spinners along the face of the dunes in 20 to 30 feet of water, with a “spin-n-glow” spinner on one rod and a “smile blade” on the other. again, no hits except for a lone perch that gobbled up the slow-moving spinner worm.

earlier, at the launch ramp, a bass-boat fisherman who was launching said he encountered slow action the day before.

there were about 10 fishing boats along the westerly edge of the dunes, all well spread out. one that we passed close to reported no fish action, and we didn’t notice any nets being readied or other activity that would signal “fish on.” surface water temperature outside of the dunes was in the upper 60’s; the cool night-time temperatures and breezes apparently have helped keep the water temp down some.

by 9:30 or 10:00 the water-ski and wave runner activity picked up, and we decided to head home and take a nap.

big john

Does anyone have any more reports or tips for Potholes? Never been there before and I'm heading over for the weekend. Gonna try for bass, or anything that will bite. Thanks.

Man,

It's probobly one of the best freshwater fisheries in Washington. I hit it at least a
dozen times a year. Plenty of healthy Fish,
but timing can be an issue. I'm waiting for the water temperature to come dpwn a bit.

Good Luck,

Ken

i'll bet the smallmouth fishery is pretty good right now. i was there the first week of august last year, and went through a 25 pack of plastic grubs in less than an hour because the fish hit them so hard. i was literally hooking a fish every cast, usually as soon as my jig hit the water, just floating off the face of the dam. i estimate catching over 100 fish in a little over an hour, between 6" and 18". lost one that looked like it was 5lbs because my line snapped. pretty insane action if you ask me

I aven't fished the Potholes in years, but some of the best bass and bluegill fishing is in some of those little Potholes or Lakes below O'Sullivan Dam in the Potholes National Wildlife Refuge.

I used to fish a hole just out of Othello where there was a washout on the Potholes Canal just below Taggaras' Dump there below the railroad line at the North end of Tagggaras's Landing Strip just beyond Sportsman's Trailer Park. Only the locals knew about it and it was one hell of a honey hole for Silvers and Rainbow Trout.