Potholes Open

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Ohl on April 18, 2010 at 6:48pm

Aaron Echternkamp won with a 2 day total of 47.55.

Congrats Aaron!

Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on April 18, 2010 at 8:29pm

Congrats Aaron.............Say it aint so!!!

Permalink Reply by NickBarrFishing.com on April 18, 2010 at 9:33pm

Aaron whooped some serious butt at Potholes. Mixed Largemouth and smallmouth. I believe there was at least 6 bags weighed in over the weekend that were larger than 24 lbs ( a couple all smallmouth)!!

Jon Werner and I had 17.50lbs. the first day, with a 5.75 SM and another 5.5 SM (Pic coming soon), then today we struggled with two fish for almost seven pounds. That gave us 24.09Lbs for the weekend and landed us in 23rd place. Got the entry fee back and the coveted Potholes Open top 25 Hat.

All in all the fishing was great, as there was I believe 12 people with over 30 lbs. for the weekend.

Permalink Reply by Shawn O'Connell on April 19, 2010 at 7:33am

Well my dad and I weighed a big zero! It was one of those weekends.

To start with we blew a tire on the motorhome pulling into our site. We drew first boat out the next morning so we were stoked. We got in line and I pulled up my trolling motor and both steering cables broke. We then get out on the water and apparently the dock power receptacle went out during the night. No electronics or livewells. So we got a big rock off of shore and used it as an anchor. It was kind of fun watching peoples faces when I'd chuck the fish back that I caught. They must have thought I had a heck of a bag, which we would not have had. There were some impressive bags to be sure and the weather was awesome. I thought we were in California with some of those weights!

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on April 19, 2010 at 9:32am

Great weather, great to see old friends, fishing was tuff for us as well. We saw a ton of fish from 5-9 lbs swimming in shallow water but they were to gun shy to catch. Tried a lot of ways to catch them but got to where when we saw them we would just laugh and say good luck.

Congrats to Barr/Werner team for cashing.

Permalink Reply by Chad Eidson on April 19, 2010 at 6:21pm

Really in Potholes? You sure that Phoniex didnt jump the dike into Moses?? To bad you didnt stick a couple of the 9s we could of called it Bakers Big Bass Bonanza part 2

Russ Baker said:

We saw a ton of fish from 5-9 lbs swimming in shallow water but they were to gun shy to catch. .

Congrats to Barr/Werner team for cashing.

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on April 19, 2010 at 6:49pm

I have fished the Holes for over 20 years and yes there are fish that big in that lake. We saw 3 in the 9lb class and 5-6 in the 7-8 lb class and probably 20 + in the 5-6lb class. The fish in the holes are very healthy. These fish are hard to catch in the spring due to being real gun shy when your site fishing. Threw everything but the kitchen sink to get them to go but just wasnt happening. Had several come up to my plastics nose down on it, getting in an attack posture and just swim away.

We backed off these fish we thru to bushes they were heading for but couldnt get them to commit.

Go figure.

Permalink Reply by Chad Eidson on April 19, 2010 at 6:58pm

Dang thats crazy. Ive never heard of that quality of fish out there. I was feeling pretty good being on 4-5 pound fish during practice. I guess next year I need to find some new spots!!!

Russ Baker said:

I have fished the Holes for over 20 years and yes there are fish that big in that lake. We saw 3 in the 9lb class and 5-6 in the 7-8 lb class and probably 20 + in the 5-6lb class. The fish in the holes are very healthy. These fish are hard to catch in the spring due to being real gun shy when your site fishing. Threw everything but the kitchen sink to get them to go but just wasnt happening. Had several come up to my plastics nose down on it, getting in an attack posture and just swim away.

We backed off these fish we thru to bushes they were heading for but couldnt get them to commit.

Go figure.

Permalink Reply by Shawn O'Connell on April 19, 2010 at 6:59pm

I have to stick up for Russ on this one. (I can't believe I just said that) I believe big fish day one was approximately a 7.5 largie. There were also a lot of fish in the high five to low six range. Everyone was seeing pigs and if you think that there is not continuity between Moses and the Potholes you are smoking dope.

David Ohl said:

Yeah I was thinking the same thing Chad. 5-6 lb is believable. 7,8,9 lbers????? Russ.....

Chad Eidson said:

Really in Potholes? You sure that Phoniex didnt jump the dike into Moses??

Russ Baker said:

We saw a ton of fish from 5-9 lbs swimming in shallow water but they were to gun shy to catch. .

Congrats to Barr/Werner team for cashing.

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on April 19, 2010 at 7:23pm

The person in the Mardon tackle store just said the old state record came from Potholes Res. It was 9 lb 15 oz. in '62. I just got off the phone with him. And supposedly they shocked up a 13 lb largemouth a few years back. Anyone who acually knows Potholes can see why there would be 10 lb., and most likely bigger, largemouth in that lake. With all the cover everyone should also be able to understand why the larger fish aren't caught 'every day'. With a 13 pound largemouth shocked up in Silver Lake, Cowlits co., why hasn't anyone caught that fish? Cover, that's why.

Permalink Reply by Shawn O'Connell on April 19, 2010 at 7:47pm

I wouldn't venture to compare the quality as I have not spent enough time on either when the fish are locked on beds, and I don't care who you are those Moses weights two years ago were impressive to say the least. I was pointing out to you that even though you didn't believe that Russ saw fish of that quality, fish were weighed that were bigger than you seemed to believe was possible.

Quote: Yeah I was thinking the same thing Chad. 5-6 lb is believable. 7,8,9 lbers????? Russ...

I'm all for busting each other's chops and will continue to do so myself. I've flipped Russ as much crap as everyone else, but I don't think he earned it this time.

David Ohl said:

I have been around the eastside lakes all my life also! I know that the two lakes meet but for some reason the fish in Moses lake this time of year are better quality than Potholes. If you look at the results of the Nixons Open vs the Potholes Open you will see a massive difference in weights and the Nixons is only a five fish limit. I dont care how long you guys have been fishing the Potholes, its not routine to go out and see fish of that caliber cruising. Im not saying that their not out there, their just few and far between. Just go back and look at all the results for NWB and ABA and tell me how many fish of that caliber were brought to the scales. If there were an abundance of fish like that you would see more weighed in.
Shawn O'Connell said:

I have to stick up for Russ on this one. (I can't believe I just said that) I believe big fish day one was approximately a 7.5 largie. There were also a lot of fish in the high five to low six range. Everyone was seeing pigs and if you think that there is not continuity between Moses and the Potholes you are smoking dope.

David Ohl said:

Yeah I was thinking the same thing Chad. 5-6 lb is believable. 7,8,9 lbers????? Russ.....

Chad Eidson said:

Really in Potholes? You sure that Phoniex didnt jump the dike into Moses??

Russ Baker said:

We saw a ton of fish from 5-9 lbs swimming in shallow water but they were to gun shy to catch. .

Congrats to Barr/Werner team for cashing.

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on April 19, 2010 at 7:56pm

I have seen small packs of 5-6lb fish cruising in the Dunes while sight fishing, and I have been able to catch them. This is usually later in the summer though I know they can be spooky this early. I don't think I have seen a 9lb bass in Potholes itself though, I too find it hard to believe there are ton of them in there. I am close friends with the Mardon store keeper and have a lot of buddies that live over there on the hill and nobody I know has caught a 9lb bass out of Potholes. The population can't be that big or I think we would see more of them caught like David is saying.

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