i've noticed over the last 5 years or so the smallmouth fishing has been insane at potholes. we worked one stretch of the dam from about 1/2 mile from mar don back to the dock with jigs, 9 times out of 10 we would have fish on as soon as the jig hit the water, and i'm by no means exaggerating. most were 5-7" nibblers, but many were in the 10-13" range and i lost one that could have gone 4lbs.

i hear the wasteways are quite productive for perch this time of year, might have to try that eventually. i'm starting to think the potholes had such a big decline from the guys who would keep a cooler full from the dock, but it doesn't explain why i never catch big ones in lind coulee any more, unless they roam far and wide

and i really think those mar don reports are mostly hype. if you ever ask where the big fish are caught, it's always the dock, though there's typically only a few small bluegill, perch and the occasional trout later in the summer when i usually hit potholes