With recent temperatures over 80 degrees and warming water, now’s the time to chase heavyweight smallmouth bass on Grant County’s Potholes Reservoir. Carolyn Burdick at the MarDon Resort tackle shop on the reservoir said a fisherman practicing for a tournament early this month caught and released a smallmouth that weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces. The angler was fishing off Goose Island. That’s a big smallie, within spitting distance of the state record of 8.75 pounds caught in April of 1966 on the Hanford Reach portion of the Columbia River.
Smallmouth on Potholes offer an easy and prolific fishery in the rocky habitat around Goose Island and along the face of O’Sullivan Dam. They can be fished from a boat or from shore at any of the pullouts along the top of the dam. Cast and retrieve a simple weighted jig head and curly tail worm setup, in motor oil, black or white, trying to keep the lure just above rock level. Late afternoon and evening are good times to fish.
You’re going to lose some jigs, however, so be prepared.
For more information, call the resort at 1-800-416-2736.
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