Fishing trip to the potholes

[chrisb]

I'm taking a trip this July with my boys to Potholes for coyote hunting and fishing. The regs say there are bluegill and crappie in there. What gear/bait/methods should i use? I've never been there before or fished for these type of fish. Any help or advice is appreciated.

[rainshadow1]

Lots of guys know the res better than I do. But I know the perch are along the NE edge from the ramp on the E side of O'Sullivan. Worms on the bottom can keep the kids interested.

Theres also good trout action in Warden close by.

I haven't got into the bluegill or crappie on the res. There's pretty fast crappie action under the I90 bridge on ML just out from the park there. Use maggots on lite gear right underneath.

The res has ok trout, and bass, but can be a little slow for the kids. I reckon the panfish are in the weeds to the North of the res, but I don't know for sure. Hopefully somebody local can tell you where the moppets will stay in the bites!

[BigGoonTuna]

the reservoir used to have some really excellent spiny ray fishing but they've been on the decline for a long time now.  it's primarily a bass and walleye lake these days.  there always seem to be bluegill and crappie around the mar don dock, but i never seem to find them elsewhere any more.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Are you shore fishing or boat fishing it?

Joe

[chrisb]

Shore Fishing

[Quackwhacker]

How many kids will you have? I might have a little boat for you to borrow?

[chrisb]

taking 2 plus my BIL. We're mainly going for the hunting but figured since we're there we can spend the heat of the day by the water.

[Quackwhacker]

Its a 12 ft Valco. Its not on a trailer.  if you have a way to hull it, you can borrow it.  Let me know

[rainshadow1]

Good on you, Quackwhack.

You can shore fish off the MarDon dock for trout, and from the shore at Warden for trout. And some people fish off the I90 bridge for Crappie. But a boat gives you 1000's more options. Even if you're just rowing.

[chrisb]

Its a 12 ft Valco. Its not on a trailer.  if you have a way to hull it, you can borrow it.  Let me know

Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately i don't have any way of hauling it. I think we'll just stick to the dock/shore areas to keep it simple. Thank you again though it's a very generous offer.

[Dustin07]

since you're already at potholes, if you got the urge to take a boat out you could rent one at Mar Don as well.

good luck. I know my buddies have caught a TON of HUGE bass over there shore fishing.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

Used to fish Soda Lake as a kid.  Caught lots of perch, some bluegill, some crappie.  Saw some guys catch a few bass and even some carp.

[SpokaneSlayer]

There's a few public fishing areas off of Hwy 262 (O'Sullivan Dam Rd.) east of the dam.  They might be worth a shot.  Maybe even the state park? 

[chrisb]

We'll be camping at the state park so I'm definitely going to try there as well as chatting up the rangers and see if they are willing to give up any honey holes.

[alanger]

Sounds like you got some good tips from these guys, hope you have a good trip.

[chrisb]

between the fishing and coyote hunting it may rank as one of my best weekends ever.

[Gringo31]

You got to tell more of the story than that 

[lokidog]

There is a lot of good smallmouth fishing from the banks in the lakes below Potholes as well.  I have caught a bunch along the "river" on the east side of the area.  Throw panther martin spinners at them.  There are also some decent bluegills in a lot of those little ponds.  Deadman Lake has been good in the past but is a bit of a walk from the parking area.  Bobbers and worms work, my ex caught a 13 inch bluegill on a salmon egg once.

With a boat, you might get into some walleye by bottom trolling rapala type lures or leeches or worms.  I got a 10 pounder once just north of the public boat launch on the SW side of the lake.  The crappies seem to hang out around the little brushy islands.

It's been a while since I've been over there but would like to get back again sometime.  Good Luck!

[chrisb]

You got to tell more of the story than that 

There is no story... yet. I don't go until July

[elk311]

I'll be out there this weekend with my kids!  

For trout you can't go wrong with powerbait out there, especially Warden Lake and the other small lakes around there.

Check your "reg's" as there are Game Wardens with spotting scopes all over that place. They watched me and my son fish for hours last year fishing from our canoe. I don't know why he wasted his time, but whatever...

[twinners]

One of my friends was a Ranger there and I believe he is still there.  Kris Nelson is his name.  He might be able to point you to some good spots.  If you see him tell him J.B. from Super One says hi.

[chrisb]

One of my friends was a Ranger there and I believe he is still there.  Kris Nelson is his name.  He might be able to point you to some good spots.  If you see him tell him J.B. from Super One says hi.

Will do.