Potholes Resevoir Walleye

[birdaddict]

I was out fishing the reservoir for eye testerday and didn't get a single bite. I saw boat around catching several other boats pulling them in. I have never fished for them this early. I usually go out later in the year when it warms up. I was using the same method I use in the warmer water of a bottom walker and spinner with a night crawler. Do you guys use a different method in the colder water?   

[KopperBuck]

This time of year at least 50% of the time throwing blade baits, and probably more. Drag jigs, cranks, jerkbaits... I typically don't run harnesses until later, but that's just me and how the folks I fish with do it.

[Black Plague]

fish slower...jigs on bottom, tip with worm ...most guys get a lot of bites but don't realize it...as a rule of thumb in cold water walleye fishing, if you think a fish may have sniffed at your lure, set the hook.

[yelp]

I really don't think it matters..SLOW is the word..if you troll spinners...60 to .85 on speed.  I use bbb or jigs too.  Water temp optimum spawn is around 46 degrees..Not surface temp bottom temp.  Most of what you will catch right now are males staging for the spawn..they follow many of th ebigger females around.  Usually where there are males ther will be females.  Fish points, flats edges, weed edges.  Good luck. 

[C-Money]

Birdaddict, were you fishing The Lind Coulee arm?

[birdaddict]

Thanks for the great info Yelp!

[birdaddict]

C-Money- Yes I was and around the corner towards Perch point. Maybe I should have headed the other way, up the coulee.

[C-Money]

There is usually a bunch of boats out there fishing a flat that is 20-25' deep. It is a large area surrounded by deeper water. Gets pretty good this time of year.

[birdaddict]

I need to hit it during the week instead of on a sunday. I am sure it was hit hard all weekend. I'm not giving up!

[yelp]

I need to hit it during the week instead of on a sunday. I am sure it was hit hard all weekend. I'm not giving up!

There are a lot of walleye in that lake it doesn't get overfished in my opinion. 

[BLUEBULLS]

The lake has been pounded hard the last several years. The only technique I’d use this time of year is casting bladebaits or swimbaits on main lake humps. The population has went down the last couple of years due to overharvest of bigger age class fish which is mainly what you’ll get throughout the winter. We’ve had a lot of 30+ fish days this time of year and the fish averaged 5-6 lbs. we’d get a 10 plus or two pretty much every trip but it’s not as good anymore.

Those fish act different than most and very feisty, we see chasers and also have fish hit your lure at the surface on the retrieve in 30ft of water.

If you do go, let the bigger fish go as they’re definitely on the decline.

trolling harnesses will be the ticket soon after the spawn, which will be in mid to late april.

[MtnMuley]

You hit the nail on the head in my opinion, BLUEBALLS.

[yelp]

The lake has been pounded hard the last several years. The only technique I’d use this time of year is casting bladebaits or swimbaits on main lake humps. The population has went down the last couple of years due to overharvest of bigger age class fish which is mainly what you’ll get throughout the winter. We’ve had a lot of 30+ fish days this time of year and the fish averaged 5-6 lbs. we’d get a 10 plus or two pretty much every trip but it’s not as good anymore.

Those fish act different than most and very feisty, we see chasers and also have fish hit your lure at the surface on the retrieve in 30ft of water.

If you do go, let the bigger fish go as they’re definitely on the decline.

trolling harnesses will be the ticket soon after the spawn, which will be in mid to late april.

Well said.

In my opinion...a 10lb walleye in Potholes or Moses Lake is younger than a 10 lb walleye in the columbia, lake roosevelt, etc.  I base my opinion is totally based on the forage base in this resevior. It is a very healthy system.

 I have seen many lakes back east have lots of fish but they were all stunted meaning a 10 year old fish was only 5 lbs..  The thinking is that big fish are being poached yet..they aren't it is that there are too many and there isn't enough forage.  Not disagreeing with anyone just saying that there are lots of variables when it comes to a population of fish.  I do know that many big fish are caught this time of year and kept down there.  Release them the little ones are better to eat.

[birdaddict]

Yes I do mostly catch and release. Sure wouldn't mind a few nice eaters though. 

[yelp]

Catch a few like these!  They are delicious!