04_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 20
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CATCH MORE RAINBOWS AT POTHOLES RESERVOIR
By John Kruse
Potholes Reservoir is best
known for its spectacular
bass, walleye, and panfish
fisheries but do not
overlook the quality trout
you can catch out of this
27,800-acre reservoir. Twoto-three-pound rainbow
trout are common in this
lake, and they can get even
bigger. Every year, multiple
anglers catch seven-pound
rainbows here.
So where do you find
them? A reservoir this
large can be intimidating
to someone who has
never fished here before.
Fortunately, there are a few
key places you can count
on to find trout.
If you are a shore-bound
angler there are a few good
choices for you. In the
spring, you can catch trout
at Blythe Point, a WDFW
access area with a boat
launch on the southwest
end of the reservoir.
Simply go towards the
end of the point and fish
from there. Many anglers
will plunk nightcrawlers or
worms here because there
are other species in the
area that will take this bait
as well.
A short distance away from
Blythe Point is Potholes
State Park. Don’t bother
fishing the main lake
from shore because it’s a
long shallow flat that isn’t
conducive to holding trout.
Instead, go to the north
end of the park and fish
Frenchman’s Wasteway.
The trout congregate in
the moving water of this
stream that flows into
Potholes Reservoir at the
northeast end of the park.
Lures like Worden Rooster
Tails or curly-tailed grubs
with a 1/8-ounce jig head
are proven winners here, as
are worms fished under slip
bobbers.
Another place to try from
shore is MarDon Resort.
In the early spring, right
after ice-out, anglers can
catch rainbows either still
fishing or casting spinners
and spoons from the shore
behind the head office or
at the swim beach. You do
need to be staying at the
resort to fish here.
Are you the kind of
angler who likes to soak
Powerbait? If so, head to
Medicare Beach on the east
end of the Reservoir. There
are plenty of Powerbait
plunkers here and if that’s
not working, try fishing a
marshmallow and worm off
the bottom.
Boat anglers have more
options and trolling in front
of Medicare Beach or near
the mouth of Frenchman’s
Wasteway are two places
worth fishing. Nathan
LaFrance at MarDon
Resort said trolling over
the sunken habitat boxes
