Potholes Open

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on April 19, 2010 at 8:00pm

I fished Potholes from about '87 until about 10 years ago, I haven't fished the East side for 10 years or more, some day I want to get back over there, if I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it again, someday. I've never seen a 7, 8, 9, or bigger fish swimming around, and known it was that big, let alone a 'ton' of them. But then some of us just aren't as lucky, or good, as others are. My personal best Largemouth out of Potholes is 5 lb something and that picture was in 'Hunting and Fishing News' back then.

Oh ya, I'd rather trust Russ's eye to estimate a fish's weight under water, than my eye on a fish of that size. My biggest bass was 10 lb even in '94, and was caught here in Wa. State.

David Ohl said:

We have a close friend of the family who one of the best fisherman in the state IMO, who caught an 11.8 in the 80's out there and is hanging above the cash register in the Mardon Store right now. I know there are fish in the 12-14 lb mark but FEW and FAR between. Just because they shocked up a 13 lber doesnt mean your gonna go out and catch that one fish. Russ said he saw a ton of fish in the 5-9 lb range and I find that hard to believe. 5-7 is believable. If there were a ton of 8-9 lbers out there you would see more weighed in! Your talking about one 13 lber vs "a ton" on 8-9 lbers. I'm not saying I don't believe Russ I'm just saying I would have to see it to believe it. I spend a lot of time at the Potholes year around. How much do you fish Potholes Tom? Have you ever seen fish of that caliber cruising by the ton?

I dont think Russ is a liar I think hes a great guy and a great fisherman. I just wish i could see fish in the 8-9 lb range by the ton.

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on April 19, 2010 at 8:13pm

I just wish I had a picture of that fish, but I didn't carry a camera in the boat back then. When I retired 6 years ago my plan was to start fishing tournies again, but that hasn't been possible. I know I should get a part time job so I can, but it's so GREAT to not have to go to work every day, and go fishing when I want, which is 3 to even 7 days a week now and then. :-) Just Sept alone the past 2 Septs I fished 12 days in '09, and 19 days in '08, all on one lake and not counting any other lake.

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on April 19, 2010 at 8:30pm

Oh ya, just remembered, the last time I fished Potholes was in '01 and again in '02. After I rejoined the Kent Bassmasters and fished a couple club tournies. Both tournies I caught the big fish, both in the mid to high 4 lb range. And fished the Jamborie on Banks. Don't know why I keep forgetting those years. It's hell being old.

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on April 19, 2010 at 8:37pm

I'd like to hear Aaron's thoughts on how many 9lbers he's seen crusing around in there just out of curiousity. Not saying Russ didn't see them, but if a 7.5lber is Aaron's biggest out of Potholes so far there can't be many swimming aorund out there.

Permalink Reply by Ben Holten on April 19, 2010 at 8:57pm

Chad and I took 11th. We found a few isolated islands that were holding a few fish. I think we saw about 6 on Friday during practice. We ended up with 24.52 pounds on saturday to put us in 3rd. We caught 8 fish. 7 in our spot and one in a community hole. We left our area about 2 hours early hoping that we could rest it for Sunday. If we had smallmouth to go after than we would have done that. But both of haven't spent much time fishing the smallmouth on PH. We went back to our LM spot and caught 3 for just under 8 on Sunday. 8 of the ten fish came on Jordan's special jig. Thanks Jordan. The Holten Hotel is always open.

Mark Olmstead who is on here was also in the money. That is all I know

Permalink Reply by Ben Holten on April 19, 2010 at 9:10pm

That is a heck of a spot Russ.

Permalink Reply by Shawn O'Connell on April 19, 2010 at 9:23pm

I agree that would be interesting to hear. I can tell you once they get six pounds they all look like giants to me.

Jordan Doucet said:

I'd like to hear Aaron's thoughts on how many 9lbers he's seen crusing around in there just out of curiousity. Not saying Russ didn't see them, but if a 7.5lber is Aaron's biggest out of Potholes so far there can't be many swimming aorund out there.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on April 19, 2010 at 9:26pm

I can tell you what he has told me, because I have asked many times, is that the fish in Potholes are definetely getting bigger, I remember last year he said he had never seen so many 7 pound fish on potholes ever before.

I think the fish are definetley getting larger and healthier due to all the forage coming back to the lake. I know one guy that got one over 8 a few weeks ago no BS he also stated he caught 8 fish all over 4.5 pounds His largest fish would have scared the hell out of Wolsky and Henderson's record Moses Lake bag!

One other comment that I read on the earlier posts that stated Moses Lake fish are better quality, if Potholes had the lack of pressure that Moses had for all those years and then put a tournament on it, I guarantee the bags of fish would demolish all other previous records. Moses for years was that forgotten gem that no one really paid attention to, locals were fishing it but not talking about it. It wasn't until about 3 to 4 years ago that it really got acknowledged again and then the pressure began. Just wait, Moses 2 more years and then you will see the bags go to the bottom and larger bags being caught out of Potholes, this is what I guarantee, The year class fish that make up the fish in that 6-9 pound range will slowly start dieing off and a new lake cycle will begin. I don't think anyone goes out there and just tears up a ton of fish in that 2-4 pound range that will be taking this older year class fishes place when they die. IMO

Jordan Doucet said:

I'd like to hear Aaron's thoughts on how many 9lbers he's seen crusing around in there just out of curiousity. Not saying Russ didn't see them, but if a 7.5lber is Aaron's biggest out of Potholes so far there can't be many swimming aorund out there.

Permalink Reply by Ben Holten on April 19, 2010 at 9:30pm

We saw it last year. THe last few years it took around 23 pounds to win our club tourney on Moses. Last year it took about 19.5 pounds. Potholes on the under hand took about 17 to win and last year was won with over 21, and probably 4 or 5 over 17 pounds.

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

I can tell you what he has told me, because I have asked many times, is that the fish in Potholes are definetely getting bigger, I remember last year he said he had never seen so many 7 pound fish on potholes ever before.

I think the fish are definetley getting larger and healthier due to all the forage coming back to the lake. I know one guy that got one over 8 a few weeks ago no BS he also stated he caught 8 fish all over 4.5 pounds His largest fish would have scared the hell out of Wolsky and Henderson's record Moses Lake bag!

One other comment that I read on the earlier posts that stated Moses Lake fish are better quality, if Potholes had the lack of pressure that Moses had for all those years and then put a tournament on it, I guarantee the bags of fish would demolish all other previous records. Moses for years was that forgotten gem that no one really paid attention to, locals were fishing it but not talking about it. It wasn't until about 3 to 4 years ago that it really got acknowledged again and then the pressure began. Just wait, Moses 2 more years and then you will see the bags go to the bottom and larger bags being caught out of Potholes, this is what I guarantee, The year class fish that make up the fish in that 6-9 pound range will slowly start dieing off and a new lake cycle will begin. I don't think anyone goes out there and just tears up a ton of fish in that 2-4 pound range that will be taking this older year class fishes place when they die. IMO

Jordan Doucet said:

I'd like to hear Aaron's thoughts on how many 9lbers he's seen crusing around in there just out of curiousity. Not saying Russ didn't see them, but if a 7.5lber is Aaron's biggest out of Potholes so far there can't be many swimming aorund out there.

Permalink Reply by Chad Eidson on April 19, 2010 at 9:43pm

I agree with Ron 100%. Potholes is getting better and better lately. The quality of the fish out there has improved markably in the last 2 years
I think the MAJOR increase in pressure on Moses has had a profound effect on both the quality of fish and the fishing there. Any more its not uncommon to see twice as many bass boats on Moses than on potholes. As Ron stated for many years there was no pressure on these fish allowing them to get big.
Fish populations and size distributions are very dynamic things that are often changing. I think potholes is on the way up and Moses on the way down.

All that being said I'm still blown away by 3 9s and 5-6 fish in the 7-8 pound range on potholes. Thats a heck of a spot.

Permalink Reply by NickBarrFishing.com on April 20, 2010 at 12:02am

Here is the pic of the two 5 lb. smallies. One is 5.75Lbs., the other is slightly smaller. The big one is my personal best, as the old PB was a 5.5Lb. fish from Riffe Lake. This fish whooped my butt for about a minute, and made my 5 power Lami look like a drop shot rod a couple of times! Gotta love PNW Smallmouth!

Caught them on a Yamamoto DT Hula Grub, using a new "Crunchtime" Jig that will be coming out soon from a local guy, I will get some pics of the new jigheads up soon. Werner can attest they are pretty awesome custom jigheads.

Congrats to the big guns up at top, as our weight was barely over half of what Aaron hauled in.

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on April 20, 2010 at 4:59pm

So would you believe this:

I have personally caught two 6-12 Smallies out of the dunes in 2006 & 2007. I showed these fish to two guys in the Western Bass Club. In fact I also saw a 6 -14 smallie caught last year in the exact same spot and we have a pic of that one as well.

I know it is hard to believe that there is several 9 lb largies but me and my partner have seen lots of these fish.

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