Potholes Reservoir Fishing
A 14,282-acre Washington reservoir in Grant County.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Steve Voght, CC BY-SA 2.0
Potholes Reservoir: what to know first
WDFW lists Potholes Reservoir at 14,282 surface acres in Grant County. The water lies at roughly 1,042 feet of elevation. Allow about 9 miles of driving to Moses Lake, the nearest town. Management on record is mixed-species water managed with a warmwater emphasis. For WDFW purposes the county is in WDFW Region 2.
The access layers show 11 launches on the water, 11 of them public. Anglers on foot get 13 shore fishing sites. WDFW names it in 4 Special Rules. Hatchery crews have put in 1 trout plant during 2026. Shore access, by WDFW: good.
WDFW Fish Washington lake layers on geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov (surface acres, elevation, management emphasis, shoreline access, species), USGS NHD outlines, Census 2023 places, retrieved October 31, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Which fish WDFW records in Potholes Reservoir
The WDFW layers, records and plant report name these fish at Potholes Reservoir.
WDFW Fish Washington species layers (presence, not abundance), WDFW records and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.
WDFW and park ramps on Potholes Reservoir
- Blythe boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Crab Creek boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 ramp, unimproved surface surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Glen Williams boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Lind Coulee Bridge boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Lind Coulee Island boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 ramp, unimproved surface surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Lind Coulee Point boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 ramp, unimproved surface surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Potholes, boat launchDiscover Pass, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
- Sampson's Pit boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 ramp, unimproved surface surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Lind Coulee East boat launch on Potholes Reservoir2 hand launches, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Medicare Beach boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 hand launch, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Warden Outfall boat launch on Potholes Reservoir1 hand launch, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Casting from land at Potholes Reservoir
- Sand Dunes on Potholes Reservoiraccess point (no launch)
- Falcon Lakes on Potholes Reservoirshore fishing site, Multiple lakes with weedy shore fishing areas, must search f
- Heron Lakes on Potholes Reservoirshore fishing site, Multiple lakes with weedy shore fishing areas, must search f
- Potholes Reservoir fishing piershore fishing site, Large fishing dock, fee required
- Potholes Reservoir shore accessshore fishing site, 100 meters of shore fishing area
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Marine View (west), Grant Countyshore fishing site, 100+ meters of shore fishing area
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Marine View (west), Grant Countyshore fishing site, Vehicle parking and expansive shore fishing area, difficult
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Marine View (south)shore fishing site, Vehicle parking and 100+meters of shore fishing area, diffic
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Marine View (east), Grant Countyshore fishing site, 200+ meters of shore fishing, difficult rocky shoreline
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Marine View (east), Grant Countyshore fishing site, 2+ vehicles and shore fishing areas
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Marine View (east), Grant Countyshore fishing site, 5+ vehicles and shore fishing areas
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Marine View (north)shore fishing site, 1000+ meters of shore fishing areas
- Potholes Reservoir shore access near Cascade Valleyshore fishing site, Multiple shore fishing areas within a short walking distance
Second-choice ramps close to Potholes Reservoir
- Corral Lake boat launchCorral Lake, 2 miles south
- Upper Goose Lake boat launchUpper Goose Lake, 4 miles south
- Lower Goose Lake boat launchLower Goose Lake, 5 miles south
- Warden Lake boat launchWarden Lake, 7 miles east
- Long Lake boat launch (east)Long Lake, 7 miles southeast
- Windmill-Canal-Heart Lakes boat launchWindmill Lake, 7 miles southeast
WDFW Water Access Sites and Shore Fishing Sites layers (geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov) and the Washington State Parks boat launch layer, retrieved October 31, 2026. A Discover Pass is needed to park at WDFW access sites and State Parks launches.
2026 stocking at Potholes Reservoir
The 2026 plant report lists 1 release for Potholes Reservoir (250 fish), latest at the top.
- POTHOLES ReservoirRainbow, 250 fish at 2.5 per pound, May 29, 2026, Columbia Basin Hatchery
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026.
Taking fish home from Potholes Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only largemouth bass less than 12" may be retained, except 1 over 17" may be retained. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Smallmouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Walleye | Min. size 12" in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 8. Only 1 over 22" may be retained. May be caught, retained, and released alive from a livewell until daily limit is in possession. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Channel Catfish | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Burbot (Freshwater Ling) | No min. size. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Grass Carp | Closed unless otherwise listed in Special Rules. | Closed |
| Kokanee | No min. size. Daily limit 10. When fishing with bait, all kokanee that are lawful to possess and are equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Tiger Muskellunge (Tiger Muskie) | Min. size 50". Daily limit 1. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Whitefish | No min. size. Daily limit 15. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Steelhead | Release all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed. | Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed |
| Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout | In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size. Daily limit 5. | Year-round (statewide lake season, p.23) |
| Trout (combined rivers and lakes same day) | The combined daily limit for an angler that fishes in both rivers and lakes on the same day is 5 trout, no more than 2 may be from rivers. | see the pamphlet |
| Lake Trout | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Eastern Brook Trout (EBT) | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Dolly Varden/Bull Trout | Closed unless otherwise listed in Special Rules. | Closed |
For Potholes Reservoir, read the statewide rows first and then the water-specific lines.
Water-specific rules for Potholes Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Rule and season |
|---|---|---|
| Potholes Reservoir | Bluegill | No min. size. Daily limit up to 25 bluegill and crappie combined. (Year-round) |
| Potholes Reservoir | Crappie | Min. size 9". Daily limit up to 25 bluegill and crappie combined. (Year-round) |
| Potholes Reservoir | Yellow perch | No min. size. Daily limit 25. (Year-round) |
| Potholes Reservoir | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Year-round) |
Special Rules as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), pamphlet page 97 (pamphlet PDF), read on eRegulations October 31, 2026.
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026.
Washington record book entries naming Potholes Reservoir
| Species | Weight | Angler | Water as printed | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bullhead | 2.38 lbs | Monica Beckley | Potholes Reservoir, Grant County | Sept. 8, 2013 |
WDFW sport fish records (freshwater and saltwater record lists, kept by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)) as listed October 31, 2026. All Washington records.
Where Potholes Reservoir ranks among nearby water
Of the five closest Washington lakes with pages, Soda Lake has the most surface water at 154 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation | Launches | 2026 plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potholes Reservoir | 14,282 | 1,042 ft | 11 | 1 | |
| Corral Lake | 2 miles south | 71 | 957 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Blythe Lake | 3 miles south | 37 | 911 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Chukar Lake | 3 miles southeast | 12 | 908 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Soda Lake | 4 miles southeast | 154 | 1,002 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Upper Goose Lake | 4 miles south | 130 | 865 ft | 1 | 0 |
WDFW Fish Washington lake layers, access layers and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Just past Potholes Reservoir
Other lakes in the Potholes Reservoir area
- Corral Lake2 miles south
- Blythe Lake3 miles south
- Chukar Lake3 miles southeast
- Soda Lake4 miles southeast
- Upper Goose Lake4 miles south
Grabbing bait and leader on the way to Potholes Reservoir
- Sportsman's Warehouse Moses Lakesporting goods store, Moses Lake, 10 miles
- Desert Fly Anglerfly shop, Ephrata
Overnight bases close to Potholes Reservoir
- Moses Lake9 miles
- Cascade Valley10 miles
- Warden12 miles
Counties that touch Potholes Reservoir
- Grant Countyseat: Ephrata
Rods and reels from Piscifun ahead of a trip to Potholes Reservoir
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Fish worth recognising before a day at Potholes Reservoir
Photo: Olympic National Park, Public domain
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
Photo: Heath Alseike, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Potholes Reservoir questions with short answers
Which Washington town is closest to Potholes Reservoir?
WDFW maps it in Grant County, about 9 miles from Moses Lake.
What acreage is on file for Potholes Reservoir?
WDFW lists 14,282 acres.
Does Potholes Reservoir have a public ramp in the WDFW or State Parks layers?
11 launches on file; try Blythe boat launch on Potholes Reservoir.
What can a Washington angler expect to hook in Potholes Reservoir?
Expect rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, black crappie and bluegill at the top of the WDFW list.
Which 2026-27 Washington rules apply on Potholes Reservoir?
Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout: In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size. Daily limit 5.; Year-round (statewide lake season, p.23). The pamphlet also prints Special Rules for this lake; see the limits band.
Which WDFW license do I carry on Potholes Reservoir?
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
Is Potholes Reservoir on the 2026 plant report?
Yes; the newest plant on file is Rainbow, 250 fish at 2.5 per pound, May 29, 2026, Columbia Basin Hatchery.
Where can I pick up PowerBait and leader before Potholes Reservoir?
Try Sportsman's Warehouse Moses Lake, about 10 miles away for bait and tackle.
What record fish came out of Potholes Reservoir?
Yellow Bullhead, 2.38 lbs, by Monica Beckley (Sept. 8, 2013).
Pencil in a weekend on Potholes Reservoir
Read the Special Rules, then pick the ramp nearest your spot.