Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: chrisb on May 21, 2010, 09:17:10 PM

Title: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 21, 2010, 09:17:10 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: rainshadow1 on May 21, 2010, 09:37:38 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: BigGoonTuna on May 21, 2010, 11:01:02 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on May 21, 2010, 11:06:17 PM: Are you shore fishing or boat fishing it?

Joe
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 22, 2010, 09:40:44 AM: Shore Fishing
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: Quackwhacker on May 22, 2010, 10:29:33 PM: How many kids will you have? I might have a little boat for you to borrow?
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 23, 2010, 08:44:56 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: Quackwhacker on May 23, 2010, 10:15:20 AM: 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
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: rainshadow1 on May 23, 2010, 03:54:25 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 24, 2010, 01:21:28 PM: Quote from: Quackwhacker on May 23, 2010, 10:15:20 AM
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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: Dustin07 on May 24, 2010, 02:38:51 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on May 24, 2010, 03:09:01 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: SpokaneSlayer on May 24, 2010, 03:33:53 PM: 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? :dunno:
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 24, 2010, 04:36:16 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: alanger on May 24, 2010, 04:53:05 PM: Sounds like you got some good tips from these guys, hope you have a good trip.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 24, 2010, 04:56:45 PM: between the fishing and coyote hunting it may rank as one of my best weekends ever.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: Gringo31 on May 25, 2010, 08:13:45 AM: You got to tell more of the story than that :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: lokidog on May 25, 2010, 08:24:23 AM: 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!
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 25, 2010, 08:40:58 AM: Quote from: Gringo31 on May 25, 2010, 08:13:45 AM
You got to tell more of the story than that :IBCOOL:

There is no story... yet. I don't go until July
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: elk311 on May 25, 2010, 08:41:46 AM: I'll be out there this weekend with my kids! :fishin:

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...
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: twinners on May 25, 2010, 09:54:55 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Fishing trip to the potholes
Post by: chrisb on May 25, 2010, 11:03:36 AM: Quote from: twinners on May 25, 2010, 09:54:55 AM
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.