Potholes Open

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on April 20, 2010 at 5:16pm

The biggest Smallies live in the dunes that is no secret anymore. I know a couple guys that finished top 10 in NWB last summer with all Smallies from the dunes. I believe there are 9lb largies because I know I have seen some in the connected waterways, but I have yet to see one on Potholes itself. Thats cool Russ but sounds insanely frustrating.

Russ Baker said:

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.

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on April 20, 2010 at 5:50pm

PJ,

It was very frustrating seeing these fish come up to your bait, sit there and look at it and then swim away. We found them holding in certain types of cover where we watched boat after boat just pass by and not see these fish. Im not saying where we found them in hopes of figuring out how to catch these fish someday during a tournament. All I will be willing to say is guys are driving right by these little areas regulary and not fishing this type of cover. All the boats we saw pass this cover up were just site fishing - looking for cruiser fish in open water.

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on April 20, 2010 at 6:04pm

Nick,

Nice pigs. Those are some gorgeous smallmouth bass. Congrats on a personal best.

As for seeing 9lbers.....who cares either way if he saw em or not. There isnt enough time in the day for me to care what someone saw or what they didnt. Its not like he's claiming he was flipping jigs to nessy, squatch, and abominable snowmen. I don't doubt that Potholes has some 9's in it. Who knows how many, but i bet its more than you think. It always is.

Permalink Reply by Mike Matkowski on April 20, 2010 at 10:14pm

I also think that Potholes is in good shape for "big" fish, and hopefully the ones caught during the Open were fat and healthy, indicative of a mild winter, good forage base and generally healthy population. I like to think that the Potholes Open is a good indicator, especially when fished under good weather conditions, of the direction the lake is heading. Unfortunately, just seeing the monster fish weighed by the top finishers can be a little misleading as to species population densities. I am concerned that Potholes is having a problem maintaining a solid population of largemouth in the 1-3 lb range, as these don't seem, atleast to me, nearly as prevalent as they were a few years back. I also believe that certain areas of the lake, which used too be much better, really suck now. Some of these "perceptions" I have, if actually true, may be the result of natural population cycles, ecological changes the lake has gone through from the influx and establishment of noxious weeds, the population growth and territorial expansion of the more aggressive smallmouths, the irrigation schedule changes with the expansion of grape vineyards in the region, and the massive growth of willows over the last 20 years. I like to blame the cormorants, pelicans and other fish eaters, for my perception their are fewer smaller bass, but I would do so without a scientific basis. I am interested to see what the impact, if any, the new Pier and irrigation pumping station (that will be built well out into the lake and inhale thousands of gallons of water per hour) for the vineyards up on the hill, will have. For sure, Potholes and Moses were both in far worse shape in the 90's.




cite>Jake "The Snake" Anderson said:

Nick,

Nice pigs. Those are some gorgeous smallmouth bass. Congrats on a personal best.

As for seeing 9lbers.....who cares either way if he saw em or not. There isnt enough time in the day for me to care what someone saw or what they didnt. Its not like he's claiming he was flipping jigs to nessy, squatch, and abominable snowmen. I don't doubt that Potholes has some 9's in it. Who knows how many, but i bet its more than you think. It always is.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on April 20, 2010 at 10:17pm

I don't really think you should have to explain yourself, guys will be guys, 9 pounders to become plural it only takes two, hard to believe, yes, but I would like to think there are 9 pounders in the lake. You obviously more than anyone else have the correct eye for it right? I mean you just caught one recently so the eye should be calibrated. I also believe you have caught 6 pound smallies in the dunes, I have seen them and caught a handful in that 5 pound range back there. Good for you Russ finding that group of fish, you might want to keep that a secret and figure out how to get to one bite! If it was me I would keep tight lipped about what I saw, I would want them all for myself!

Russ Baker said:

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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