Pick of the Week

Now that pheasant and waterfowl seasons have opened, the Potholes Reservoir area in Grant County offers some of the best cast-and-blast action in the state. An afternoon fishing trip, according to MarDon Resort owner Mike Meseberg, could turn up bass, lots of walleye, and some nice crappie, up to the huge 151⁄2-inch fish boated last week. Top-water lures make an exciting way to tempt largemouth back in the dunes, where a rise of 5 feet in the water level has opened up a lot of new and productive areas.

A morning duck hunting trip to round out your weekend should provide birds if you get right on it. Saturday’s statewide waterfowl opener in the Columbia Basin was good for locally produced ducks, Meseberg said, particularly for teal on the wasteways adjacent to the reservoir and in the dunes. And Sunday, when the wind came up, was even better.

Since local ducks provide most of the hunting action until migratory birds start coming down from Canada, it’s important to get to ’em during the first week or two of the season. After that, there’s usually a lull until migratory mallard time.

Remember, too, the Royal Slope fee hunting opportunity that benefits Royal schools activities. Wild pheasant, 2,000 pen-raised pheasant, plus ducks and geese on over 20,000 acres of cropland for a fee of $300 per person. For information, call 1-800-416-2736.