It is , in my opinion the best area in Washington. As a rule of thumb most media will start feeding the "northerns are in just prior to Thanksgiving, by a week or so. A tip....and you can pretty much set you waterfowling clock by it.....be hunting in or around Veterans Day in the Potholes, the 11th of Nov.......the initial flurries of northerns start showing up then. Oh and those big fast assed mallards people shoot late in Oct. and early Nov. are not northerns...they're locally produced birds. Those early arrivals will be on the sleeker slide.
Veteran's Day in the Potholes.....doesn't get any better.....and most are waiting for the mid to end month arrival, so hunter numbers are usually less. Some of my fondest waterfowling memories have been on this date, before or after in this beautiful area.
By the way....you don't need Mardon. If you have a small boat launch in the north end. No boat....hike in with a few dekes from numerous access areas.